Alastair Bland

Is a state plan to update Delta water rules double counting restoration of water and habitat? By Alastair Bland A historic effort to pump some life back into the San Joaquin River’s devastated salmon runs began more than 15 years ago as water users began releasing more water each year from Friant Dam for restoration purposes. Under the rules of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, Friant water users are permitted to recapture that water downstream of the 153-mile project […]

By Alastair Bland Negotiations over how to manage the Delta’s water and fish species hit a boiling point in late January, when hundreds of members of the public, environmental groups, and Tribes pleaded for days on end with California water officials. They demanded that the State Water Resources Control Board go against the wishes of powerful farming districts and mandate that more water flows through the ailing estuary, lest its once prolific chinook salmon, sturgeon, and smelt cross thresholds of […]

Surfers are just, like, totally stoked to help, bro.

Lower efficiency makes the eco-friendly nets and ropes fall short. That’s a trade-off we might have to accept.

California has new rules restricting white shark fishing, but advocates say the convoluted legislation won’t solve the problem of fishers targeting the protected species.

It may be avocado season in the Bay.

It may be avocado season in the Bay.

Seashells unearthed during summer gardening. Masses of granitic rock that formed alongside the Sierra Nevada, since stranded on coastlines. Sedimentary rock, originating from the seafloor, perched 800 feet above San Francisco. The jumbled mélange of Bay Area geology makes sense only when seen through the lens of plate tectonics. Many of these formations fall within the Franciscan Complex, the diverse array of rocks delivered from far away by the chaotic movement of Earth's plates. Some are quite old, from as long as 200 million years ago, making our own lives seem as momentary as the passing of a bird's shadow.

As the August sun broke through the morning fog in southwest Santa Rosa, two dozen local residents convened in the gravel picnic ground of Bayer Park and G

AS THE AUGUST SUN BROKE THROUGH the morning fog in southwest Santa Rosa, two dozen local residents convened in the gravel picnic ground of Bayer Park and Gardens.