Kurtis Alexander

#FridayReads New @sfchronicle.com: 1 in 5 new California homes are built in wildfire zones. That’s causing real issues for communities. 🔌💡

California is building homes deeper into wildfire country. Here’s why. A housing shortage crisis combined with an era of climate-fueled wildfires has made building homes a fraught undertaking across much of California.

California is running out of safe spots to put homes.

A look at 2024 state housing data shows that in many counties, every new home is being built in a wildfire hazard area
www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...

Even if you’re not into snakes, these little guys are charming

The S.F. zoo is raising a captive population of San Francisco garter snakes. Scientists plan to begin releasing the endangered snakes in the wild, including these newborns, to boost their numbers www.sfchronicle.com/climate/arti...

Trump administration could roll back planned California dam removal U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggested that the Trump administration may try to halt PG&E’s plans to remove two dams on a Northern California river, due to water supply concerns.

New: The Trump administration appears to be working to roll back plans for dam removal on California's Eel River.

"Stay tuned," says U.S. Ag Secretary @secrollins.govpeeps.com

www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

‘Prepare to be blown away’: New national monument near Santa Cruz about to open The new national monument near Santa Cruz, established during President Obama’s term, will offer hiking, biking and sightseeing opportunities when it opens to the public this summer.

New: Cotoni-Coast Dairies national monument near Santa Cruz will open Aug. 15. (President Obama designated the monument in 2017, but it’s been closed since for preparations) www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

California’s massive dam removal hit a key milestone. Now, there’s a problem The return of salmon to their ancestral home was a fundamental goal of the dam removal and a measure of the Klamath River project’s success. However, a problem has emerged.

“Restoration is not a flip-of-the-switch and everything-is-fine endeavor. It took hundreds of years for the basin to get to the way it is now, and it’s going to take time to modify it to suit fish.” Via @sfchronicle.com & @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

Yosemite contractor slammed for failings, like rodents at Ahwahnee bar Yosemite National Park’s major contractor, Aramark, received unusually poor performance grades in a newly available report from the park service.

Having recently dined at Base Camp Eatery can't say I'm shocked - from @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

It’s always nice to hear good conservation news.

Yosemite’s Tioga Pass scheduled to open on Memorial Day Visitors to Yosemite National park will be able to cross through the park on Highway 120 with Monday’s scheduled opening of Tioga Pass.

New: Tioga Pass at Yosemite National Park (Hwy 120) will open on Monday www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/art...

California’s extraordinary tree die-off may finally be easing Forest Service aerial surveys show that tree mortality in California hit its lowest level in years — good news for Sierra forests decimated by drought, beetles

The tree die-off that has withered California forests for a decade appears to be easing. New Forest Service data shows tree mortality at a 10-year low www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Where do wolves live in California? New map gives real-time location California wildlife officials released a new map showing the location of endangered gray wolves around the state. The animals are tracked by GPS collars.

Pretty cool...

California wildlife officials just unveiled a map showing real-time locations of wolves
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Yosemite's reservation system is back — but in a scaled-down form After months of uncertainty, Yosemite National Park unveils scaled-back reservation requirements for visitors, starting Memorial Day.

New: After months of uncertainty, Yosemite National Park announces that its day-use reservation requirement is back for summer

Reservations go on sale May 6 www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/art...

A major California city wants to revive its dry river. It’s not easy Decades ago, the Kern River flowed through Bakersfield. Now it is dry — but some residents are dreaming of its return.

A major California city lost its river. Residents are fighting to revive it

By @kurtisalexander.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

California tree improbably becomes highest-growing in the state A new study suggests that Jeffrey pines are charging uphill in the Sierra Nevada, in an unusual reverberation of climate change.

Pretty cool discovery... Jeffrey pines were found growing higher than any other known California tree (12,500 feet plus)

Birds and climate change are thought to be responsible for the tree's migration, sometimes thousands of feet uphill, per @ucdavis.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/climate/arti...

Lots of water at Yosemite right now #MercedRiver

Snowpack in the park measured 85% of average at the April peak.

Dam removal deal could create longest free-flowing California river The Eel River could become the longest free-flowing river in California after a complex deal was reached over the retirement of two PG&E dams.

Local, state and tribal leaders have reached a deal to remove two dams on the Eel River, which would make it California's longest free-flowing river: www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... via @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

Trump administration pulls funding for California fish at heart of water wars The tiny endangered Delta smelt, long a target of conservatives, faces a grim future after the Trump administration pulled funding from a UC Davis lab.

New: Trump administration halts funding for the captive breeding program for delta smelt.

The move follows the president's criticism of the fish, linking the endangered smelt to the lack of water for fighting the fires in Los Angeles www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Trump says he freed water for California. Locals say it wasn’t needed The unexpected discharge of water at two reservoirs in the San Joaquin Valley is sparking confusion in agricultural and political circles.

Trump says he freed water for California. Locals say it wasn’t needed—Among those baffled by the series of events this week in the San Joaquin Valley was Sen. @alexpadilla4ca.bsky.social D-Calif.
“Unscheduled water… www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art... SF Chronicle @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

Head of Yosemite National Park calls it quits after 40 years of service Veteran National Park Service leader Cicely Muldoon led Yosemite through the staffing, crowding challenges of COVID.

Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon has announced that she is stepping down at the end of next month, leaving a hole in the management at one of the nation’s top parks.

Historic change coming to Point Reyes as environmentalists buy out ranchers Point Reyes National Seashore has long had dairy and beef operations. Now they are being paid to leave

ICYMI: Big news at Point Reyes National Seashore...

Environmentalists are buying out ranchers in a deal that will forever remove cattle from the park www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Biden’s parting gift to Northern California: A new national monument in the remains of an ancient volcano The Sáttítla Highlands National Monument is a striking volcanic landscape that includes Medicine Lake, Glass Mountain Obsidian Flow and countless lava beds.

New: President Biden just established the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in Northern California.

It's a pretty amazing place. Here's a little more about it... www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

California’s first snow survey of season shows solid start to winter California’s first snow survey of season shows solid start to winter thanks to series of December storms

Just in: California's snowpack measures 108% of average in the state's first snow survey of the season.

Most of the cold December storms hit up north. (Some cities in SoCal have seen almost no precipitation the past six months) www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

The beloved, scenic headwaters of the Merced River flow through Yosemite National Park…

Then what? The river doesn’t end in the park. Ranchers & ag interests, illegal water draws, poor oversight, and bad water policy are draining this river dry and harming the watershed & imperiled wildlife in it.

No. But hopefully we’ll connect at some other point

Thanks, Michael!

Thanks for the welcome!

California’s Merced River dried up below Yosemite. Reason was mystery until now The Merced River in the Central Valley stopped flowing two years ago, and California water regulators have finally figured out why. But there’s no easy fix.

It was shocking that a five-mile stretch of the Merced River ran dry two years ago. Now, California water regulators have figured out why. But there's no easy fix

Gift link to story: www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Test driving the new account. Hello.