Noah Haggerty

California needs biomass energy to meet its wildfire goals. Its projects keep going South California needs to burn vegetation both for wildfire mitigation and to generate power. So why do biomass energy projects keep leaving the state?

California needs biomass energy to meet its wildfire goals. Its projects keep going South

California needs biomass energy to meet its wildfire goals. Its projects keep going South California needs to burn vegetation both for wildfire mitigation and to generate power. So why do biomass energy projects keep leaving the state?

Should we be frustrated or relieved that California biomass companies are flocking to build projects in the South instead of here? Super informative story by my colleague @nohaggerty.bsky.social: www.latimes.com/environment/...

The L.A. wildfire cleanup was fast. Residents eager to rebuild worry officials chose speed over safety The federal cleanup of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires was in some ways a historic achievement. But many residents are worried that by moving fast, the results were compromised.

The L.A. wildfire cleanup was fast. Residents eager to rebuild worry officials chose speed over safety. My latest w/ Tony & @nohaggerty.bsky.social @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/environment/...

The L.A. wildfire cleanup was fast. Residents eager to rebuild worry officials chose speed over safety The federal cleanup of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires was in some ways a historic achievement. But many residents are worried that by moving fast, the results were compromised.

The L.A. wildfire cleanup: Experts worry that the rapid pace of the cleanup resulted in sloppy work and lax oversight that may ultimately cost homeowners. www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com

The L.A. wildfire cleanup was fast. Residents eager to rebuild worry officials chose speed over safety The federal cleanup of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires was in some ways a historic achievement. But many residents are worried that by moving fast, the results were compromised.

The L.A. wildfire cleanup was fast. Residents eager to rebuild worry officials chose speed over safety

After the trauma of the fires, survivors faced worry over contamination, struggled to find testing With limited resources and scarce information, L.A. fire survivors remain worried about contamination and unable to get environmental testing.

After the Eaton & Palisades fires, LA County residents were worried about contamination in their soil, air, and water. But fewer than half could get testing, leaving many without answers and deepening mistrust.

@nohaggerty.bsky.social in @latimes.com: www.latimes.com/environment/...

After the trauma of the fires, survivors faced worry over contamination, struggled to find testing With limited resources and scarce information, L.A. fire survivors remain worried about contamination and unable to get environmental testing.

After the trauma of the fires, survivors faced worry over contamination, struggled to find testing

One year after dams were torn down, an Indigenous writer sees a healing Klamath River Dams were dismantled on the Klamath River last year. An Indigenous writer reflects on how the river is starting to recover.

Thanks @ianjames.bsky.social for filling in on Boiling Point this week. Wonderful conversation with an Indigenous writer, Yurok Tribe member Amy Bowers Cordalis, about the Klamath River coming back to life now that four dams are gone.

I'll be back next Thursday! www.latimes.com/environment/...

'A cancer on our society' Toxic social media after Kirk shooting brings calls to log off, put down phones As Charlie Kirk's graphic killing sparks online vitriol, elected officials warn of the psychological damage that social platforms pose, and experts say bad actors could exploit the situation.

The misinformation around this whole thing has been so bad.

IMO, it’s a symptom of the fact that social media platforms (and some of the MSM) are still failing to reconcile our immediate want for every detail with our inability to get them www.latimes.com/california/s...

A 'Roomba for the forest' could be SoCal's next wildfire weapon The BurnBot is a a remote-controlled vehicular system that removes flammable brush alongside roads with unprecedented precision.

A 'Roomba for the forest' could be SoCal's next wildfire weapon

The cool thing about ButnBot, IMO, is the precision it brings to prescribed burns. It scorches everything in its path, but operators have complete control over that path — they can specifically target areas with a lot of type conversion to invasive grasses and leave area with native species alone.

A 'Roomba for the forest' could be SoCal's next wildfire weapon The BurnBot is a a remote-controlled vehicular system that removes flammable brush alongside roads with unprecedented precision.

A ‘Roomba for the forest’ could be SoCal’s next wildfire weapon www.latimes.com/environment/... via @nohaggerty.bsky.social

I appreciate the info! Not trying to play the blame game, just push the conversation forward among boiling point readers (largely environmental folks). Certainly not trying to claim most/all enviros buy into pristine wild thinking. More coverage on timber on the way (I wrote that timber story BTW!)

Both are important issues — but are ones boiling point readers are already quite versed in ;)

That vision is one of active stewardship and a recognition of the fundamental connection between our developed lands and our wildlands

So, what does science say about how you *really* protect timber stocks? Acknowledge the wild on your timberlands (keep them ecologically healthy and therefore fire resistant) and acknowledge our responsibility in the wildlands (steward fire so mega-blazes from neighboring land don’t destroy stock)

When we drop this black and white thinking of “land we leave pristine” and “land we dominate,” we can more pragmatic conversations, acknowledging we need and use timber (but maybe could use less) and that we can still let nature thrive on these lands.

This false idea that we can isolate the “wild” areas we want to leave untouched from the areas where we exert our “full influence” — both our towns and timberlands — prevents us from talking about land we both take from (harvest timber) and give back to (protect species, do prescribed burning)

🧵 There’s definitely another layer here that this piece doesn’t address — I’d put it this way: Yes, the forest service was primarily concerned with timber economics. Obviously, you don’t want your stock to burn. But the “pristine wilderness” idea is really what limits our thinking on this, IMO

To solve the wildfire crisis, we have to let the myth of ‘the wild’ die To solve the wildfire crisis, we have to let the myth of ‘the wild’ die.

Thank you @nohaggerty.bsky.social for filling in today with a great Boiling Point. All about John Muir's role in the history of catastrophic Western fire suppression, starting with his famous trip to Yosemite with Teddy Roosevelt: www.latimes.com/environment/...

In SoCal, as here in Marin, tribal descendants of Native tribes with no official federal recognition are beginning to regain some tiny portion of their ancestral lands through nonprofits & fundraising. Incremental, but also deeply meaningful. Story by @nohaggerty.bsky.social

It was a pleasure to chat about this work — thanks for sharing! 🌲

Private land used for logging is more prone to severe fire than public lands. A new study shows why New research explains why forests planted for logging purposes fuel devastating wildfires more often than untouched land.

Great to see our work in my hometown paper!

Its not logging itself thats the issue, its what happens after -- dense plantations are responsible for elevated fire severity in industrial forests.

Excellent story by @nohaggerty.bsky.social.

www.latimes.com/environment/...

Private land used for logging is more prone to severe fire than public lands. A new study shows why New research explains why forests planted for logging purposes fuel devastating wildfires more often than untouched land.

Important story from @nohaggerty.bsky.social on new wildfire and forestry research: www.latimes.com/environment/...

'A land that our ancestors walked': L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time For the first time in centuries, a piece of ancestral territory belongs to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. While small, the half-acre lot serves as a space for the tribe to hold ceremonies an...

A Southern California tribe is regaining ancestral land. “To see it come full circle back to us again, it’s very healing.” www.latimes.com/environment/... @nohaggerty.bsky.social @julianayamadaphoto.bsky.social

Private land used for logging is more prone to severe fire than public lands. A new study shows why New research explains why forests planted for logging purposes fuel devastating wildfires more often than untouched land.

Private land used for logging is more prone to severe fire than public lands. A new study shows why

'A land that our ancestors walked': L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time For the first time in centuries, a piece of ancestral territory belongs to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. While small, the half-acre lot serves as a space for the tribe to hold ceremonies and government business without needing anyone's permission.

'A land that our ancestors walked': L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time

'A land that our ancestors walked': L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time For the first time in centuries, a piece of ancestral territory belongs to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. While small, the half-acre lot serves as a space for the tribe to hold ceremonies an...

For the first time in centuries, the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, an LA County-based tribe, has a piece of their ancestral territory.

Beautiful story on the land transfer from @nohaggerty.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...

After short reprieve, heat and fire weather to return in SoCal As cooler, wetter weather helps southern and central California fire crews contain a handful of blazes burning in the region, the National Weather Service warns it likely won’t last.

After short reprieve, heat and fire weather to return in SoCal

COVID surges nationwide with highest rates in Southwest as students return to school COVID-19 rates in the Southwestern United States reached 12.5% — the highest in the nation. It comes as California students return to the classroom after RFK Jr. nixed the CDC's recommendation that they receive booster shots.

COVID surges nationwide with highest rates in Southwest as students return to school