Environment

The Rose Creek Native Plant Garden Has Some Very Good Friends

November 22, 2023 by Source

The Rose Creek Native Plant Garden has some very good friends, the nonprofit Friends of Rose Creek who judiciously maintain it and support it by being its custodian.

Friends accomplish this task, in part, through hosting work parties on the second Saturday of every month.

PB social activist and environmentalist, Karin Zirk, is the founder and current executive director of Friends of Rose Creek. If you’re lucky, you’ll get on one of her conducted tours of the native plant garden where she’ll explain the origin of the garden, its purpose, and the joys – and challenges – of keeping it properly tended.

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Surfrider Was Born 40 Years Ago — Here’s Its History

November 22, 2023 by Source

40 years ago a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot.

Since its inception in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations with a volunteer-activist network dedicated to its mission to protect and enjoy the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Today, the Surfrider Foundation has over 200 chapters and student clubs …

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New Study Shows Coastal Air Quality in San Diego and Tijuana Is Unsafe

November 21, 2023 by Source

By María José Durán / San Diego Magazine / Nov. 21, 2023

Some Californians rejoice when rain falls—but surfers aren’t among them. San Diegans have known for a long time that swimming in the ocean after a storm is a risk to their health, since runoff can send contaminants streaming into the sea. But recent discoveries are bringing to light that swimming or surfing in bacteria-contaminated water is no longer the only way to get exposed. Just walking on the beach—or merely existing near the coast—can make people sick.

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Dismantlement of San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant Is More than 60% Complete

November 16, 2023 by Source

By Rob Nikolewski / San Diego Union-Tribune / Nov. 16, 2023

While it may be difficult to see as drivers zoom past the two distinctive domes on the west side of Interstate 5, the dismantlement of the San Onofre nuclear power plant is more than 60 percent complete. “We’re just under two-thirds of the way through,” said Vince Bilovsky, director of the decommissioning project at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, known as SONGS for short. “We’re where we need to be.”

Demolition work on the eight-year, $4.7 billion project started in October 2020 and is scheduled to finish by the end of 2028.

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Michael Smolens: ‘Howard Wayne – Along With Donna Frye — Set California’s Standard for Ocean Water Quality’

November 15, 2023 by Source

Former Democratic Assemblyman Passes

By Michael Smolens / San Diego Union-Tribune /Nov. 15, 2023

Howard Wayne had a license plate that read “AB 411.” That probably meant nothing to the uninitiated, but those who knew the former Assembly member certainly got it. In 1997, Wayne’s Assembly Bill 411 to require and standardize ocean water-quality testing in California was approved by the Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson.

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More Debate on Its Future and Restoring Wetlands to Northeast Mission Bay’s De Anza Cove

November 15, 2023 by Source

Here are two views within the continuing community debate over the future of De Anza Cove in northeast Mission Bay recently published by the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Does city grasp that restoring wetlands is key to cleaner Mission Bay?

By Tyler Vanosdell

City’s flawed plan won’t right Mission Bay’s wrongs of the past

By John Heatherington

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Congrats California! The Drought Is Officially Over

November 10, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

All the efforts of California’s residents have paid off – as national weather forecasters have declared the state’s most extreme drought in the last 126 years has come to an end.

Pat yourself on the back – for all those unwatered yards, all those missed showers, all the times you didn’t wash the car, all that rain water you collected – has now officially pushed he state out of that darn lingering drought.

And the U.S. Drought Monitor reported  all of the state was drought-free as of Thursday, November 9. … But – wait a minute.

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‘The Big Dump – Our Pacific Ocean in Crisis’ – at Coronado Island Film Festival – Friday, Nov.10

November 7, 2023 by Source

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OB Community Garden Looking for More Gardeners

November 3, 2023 by Source

by Dave Schwab / Peninsula Beacon / November 2, 2023

Members of Ocean Beach Community Garden, who just held their annual fall festival on Oct. 21, are actively recruiting new membership.

“This summer we experienced a lot of turnover, and we are now collaborating on exploring options to revive membership,” said spokesperson Melva Gitana-Monsivais, who discovered the community garden, tucked away at 2351 Soto St., via Google. “We hope to get the exposure to keep plots filled and empower the community’s efforts in growing gardens.”

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California Finally Moving to Restrict Synthetic Turf

November 3, 2023 by Source

by Shreya Agrawal / CalMatters  – Times of San Diego / October 22, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week passed on a chance to limit the use of the so-called “forever chemicals” in legions of plastic products when he vetoed a bill that would have banned them in synthetic lawns.

His veto of an environmental bill that overwhelmingly passed the Legislature underscores California’s convoluted guidance on the plastic turf that some homeowners, schools and businesses use in place of grass in a state accustomed to drought.

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Here’s One Way to Protect California’s Beaches From Rising Seas: Stop Messing With Them

November 3, 2023 by Source

By Karina Johnston / Op-Ed LA Times / Oct. 20, 2023

Protecting our coasts from sea level rise is increasingly urgent, especially for densely populated coastal communities such as Southern California’s. Coastal flooding and beach erosion from rising seas and storms are far more than a threat; they’re already happening in many places in California and beyond. But new research suggests one relatively simple means of shoring up our beaches: leaving them alone.

As I and my colleagues at UC Santa Barbara and our partner institutions showed

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November 2023 Events for San Diego — from the Ocean Beach Green Center

November 1, 2023 by Source

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise

* Every Saturday 10:30 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings  November 4th, 11th,18th, and 25th  

* November 11th Saturday 5 pm – 11:59 pm KNSJ’s 10 Year Anniversary Gala 
* November 11th Saturday 3 pm Amnesty International Group 137 San Diego. 
* November 11th Saturday  Protest Del Mar @ Race  Track #1

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Growing an ‘Edible Landscape’

October 24, 2023 by Source

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October 2023 Events from the Ocean Beach Green Center

October 9, 2023 by Source

Every Saturday 10:30 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings  October 28th.

October 27th Friday 8 am – 6 pm 2023 San Diego Green Building Conference & Expo BUILDING POSITIVE: CULTIVATING A REGENERATIVE FUTURE UC San Diego Park & Market 1100 Market St San Diego 92101 This is San Diego’s premier event for green building professionals from all fields of expertise to come together to share ideas, inspiration and connection. This year we are partnering with the World Woman Foundation’s Sustainability Forum taking place on Thursday, October 26th at UC San Diego Park & Market. Join both days of this exciting collaboration to hear from visionary leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, academics, artists, and policymakers. $135 to $275 More info:  https://www.sd-gbc.org/sdgbce23

October 28th Saturday 10 am – 2 pm Fall at the Farm Event by Wild Willow Farm We are excited to invite you to a day of fun and celebration At Wild Willow Farm, we are passionate about regenerative agriculture, education, and connecting with our local community. This event is our way of sharing the joys of farm life with you! This event is free and suited for all ages. More info:  https://www.facebook.com/events/710216361149527/?ref=newsfeed

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Feds Gives $10 Million for City’s ‘Urban Forest’ Despite Gloria’s Track Record in Keeping Trees

October 4, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

I had to laugh sarcastically this morning when I read in today’s Union-Tribune about how “San Diego plans to boost the city’s urban forest with $10 million in federal climate funds that will help it plant thousands of trees in vulnerable neighborhoods and preserve many threatened trees.”

A good part of the article was about how trees help mitigate heat. City Forester Brian Widener even was quoted as saying:

“Trees provide shade, ecosystem services and a host of other benefits to make a greener and more livable San Diego. We are thrilled to receive this funding which will improve San Diego’s urban forest in our city’s historically underserved communities with new trees and expansion in growing space around our existing trees.”

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Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs — The Video

October 2, 2023 by Source

This awe inspiring video, Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs, by Charles Landon is a must see.

Original music by Phil Rockhold.

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Surfrider Hosts 31st Annual Paddle for Clean Water at OB Pier — to Highlight Border Pollution Crisis : Sunday, Oct.1

September 29, 2023 by Source

Hundreds of ocean lovers and beach enthusiasts from throughout San Diego County are invited to make a statement in support of clean water at Surfrider Foundation San Diego County’s 31st Annual Paddle for Clean Water.

This year, the Paddle will focus on the border pollution crisis and Surfrider’s ongoing advocacy through the Clean Border Water Now program.

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The True Saga of the Missing Trees of Midway

September 27, 2023 by Source

By Geoff Page

While driving through the Sports Arena area in late February of this year, this writer noticed that a large stand of very big trees that once graced the east side of the Dixieline lumber building were gone. It has taken until now to drag the story of what happened out of the city and its property manager.

This stand of trees was removed because the Midway homeless were camping out under them. The tree canopy was extensive providing shade and probably protection from the rain. The misguided solution to the homeless camp was to kill this big stand of trees that were benefiting us all, without asking any of us.

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Are Aliens from a Hotter World Setting Climate Policy?

September 26, 2023 by Source

By David Helvarg

There’s an obvious reason global fossil fuel subsidies reached $7 trillion last year.  In a recent republican debate former Governor Chris Christie sarcastically dismissed a question on UFOs while Vivek Ramaswamy called climate change a hoax and yet no one seemed to make the connection.

As suggested in the 1996 climate documentary (masked as a science fiction film) ‘The Arrival’ aliens in human guise seek to take advantage of our bad energy choices in order to accelerate and terra-form the planet to the hotter drier conditions they need to colonize Earth.

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New Stroll at Pt Loma Native Plant Garden

September 22, 2023 by Source

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Another San Diego Community Planning Group Takes a Stand — Barrio Logan vs. Biofuel Company Pipeline

September 22, 2023 by Source

By Emily Alvarenga / San Diego U-T / Sept. 21, 2023

After months of outcry from neighbors weary of pollution and wary of a growing industrial presence, a Barrio Logan biofuel company has withdrawn its plans for a pipeline connecting its warehouses.

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Tuesday, Sept. 19: City Council to Consider 20% Rate Increase for Our Water Bills

September 19, 2023 by Source

Today, Tuesday, Sept. 19, the San Diego City Council is scheduled to consider a nearly 20 percent rate-increase for water bills of local customers.

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune / Sept. 16, 2023

The increase, which city officials began studying last fall, would be the first comprehensive rate hike approved by the council in nearly eight years. It would include a 10.2 increase this December and an 8.75 percent jump in January 2025. City officials say they need additional revenue increases to cover rising costs for imported water, upgrades to thousands of aging pipes and a long list of short-term and long-term capital projects.

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San Diego Closes 2 La Jolla Areas to Protect Sea Lions

September 19, 2023 by Source

by Elizabeth Ireland / Times of San Diego / Sept. 18, 2023

The San Diego City Council Monday, Sept. 18, voted for a year-round closure of Boomer Beach and Point La Jolla, two areas that serve as California sea lion rookeries and areas which have been closed seasonally since 2021.

The closure area encompasses Point La Jolla and parts of Boomer Beach, specifically from the Conrad F. Limbaugh and Harold F. Riley commemorative plaque northwest of La Jolla Cove to the last gazebo above Boomer Beach northeast of Rocky Point.

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Greenpeace: ‘Huge’ Overfishing Problem Shows Ocean Treaty Needs to Be Ratified

September 14, 2023 by Source

By Romain Fonsegrives / Yahoo News / September 13, 2023

Overfishing in international waters has surged in the past five years and demonstrates the need to ratify a recent global treaty to protect the high seas, a Greenpeace report said Wednesday.

The non-governmental network is calling on as many countries as possible to sign the treaty next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

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San Diego County’s Shrinking Beaches

September 12, 2023 by Source

By Phil Diehl/ San Diego U-T / Sept. 10, 2023

San Diego County’s beaches need costly, sustained replenishment efforts to remain the wide, sandy tourist attractions they have been for so long, a new regional study shows.

Shorelines in south Oceanside, south Carlsbad, Leucadia and Coronado are shrinking fast, according to the 2023 “State of the Coast” report released Thursday by the San Diego Association of Governments.

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Red Sky at Night – Gardener’s Delight

September 1, 2023 by Source

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September 2023 Events from the Ocean Beach Green Center

September 1, 2023 by Source

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise

* Sept 7th, 14th and 21st Thursdays, 4 pm – 6 pm  demonstrations against the September Air Show

* Sept 7th Thursday 5:30 pm Webinar Seeding Connections by California Native Plant Society

* Sept 9th Saturday 5 pm -8 pm Fall Preview by San Diego Audubon Society Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center

* September 9th Saturday 11 am – 3:30 pm The Black in Front Summit
* September 9th Saturday 3 pm Amnesty International Group 137 San Diego.

* September 9th Saturday 7 pm Doors of Change Concert of Hope

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San Diego County Marine Protected Areas Are Working

August 30, 2023 by Source

In a report just for subscribers, journalist Ana Ramirez at the San Diego Union-Tribune today asked, “San Diego’s marine preserves limit fishing to protect sea life. Could boundary changes be coming?” Here are some excerpts from her report:

The underwater park off Encinitas is one of 11 of San Diego County’s marine protected areas, which were established about 10 years ago in an effort to restore waters depleted from overfishing and to preserve marine ecosystems. A decade later, California Fish and Wildlife is examining if that effort is working. The results of a 10-year review released in January indicated it was,

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Scripps Researchers to Develop Tool to Forecast Ocean Pollution

August 29, 2023 by Source

By Erik Anderson / KPBS / August 29, 2023

California is investing $3 million in an effort to allow researchers to predict when and where ocean waters near Imperial Beach may be contaminated.

The ocean off the coast of Imperial Beach has suffered decades of contamination which includes trash, toxic chemicals and untreated sewage runoff.

Last week, homes in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, San Diego and on the Silver Strand were under a boil-water order because a test sample came back positive for E. coli contamination.

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Endangered Ridgway’s Rails to Be Released Today — Tues., Aug.29 — in Mission Bay

August 29, 2023 by Source

On Tuesday, August 29th, US Fish and Wildlife Service will release a batch of rusty-colored birds with long orange bills, called Ridgway’s Rail, at the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System’s Kendall-Frost Marsh.

Ridgway’s Rail are federally- and state-endangered, primarily due to the loss of its coastal habitat. They live in saltmarsh wetland with lush and tall vegetation often
composed of cordgrass and pickleweed. Once they are established in a tidal wetland, they spend their whole life there foraging, breeding and nesting.

The USFWS has a Ridgway’s Rail breeding program located at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

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