Kurtis Alexander

A major housing battle is taking place on the edge of Yosemite National Park An unusual battle over new housing is emerging on the western edge of Yosemite National Park, in an area zoned for forest.

I am always skeptical about people opposing new housing next to existing housing, but when it's happening along the edge of Yosemite National Park you have to scratch your head at least a little bit: www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... via @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

good story

A major housing battle is taking place on the edge of Yosemite National Park An unusual battle over new housing is emerging on the western edge of Yosemite National Park, in an area zoned for forest.

110 new homes are being planned along the boundary of Yosemite National Park (at Yosemite West).

It’s an odd place for a housing development but a provision in California housing law could make it possible www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Northern California’s first condor egg in 100 years reported in redwood tree

Who COULDN’T use some good news? ‘ Scientists with the Yurok Tribe say that two of dozens of condors released to the wild in Humboldt County since 2022, to reestablish the endangered birds, have paired up, built a nest in a redwood tree and appear to be tending to an egg.”

#californiacondor

Yosemite National Park eliminates summer reservations National Parks officials say requiring reservations for entry to Yosemite was problematic. But conservation groups say dropping the policy will lead to congestion and environmental strain.

New: Yosemite is doing away with reservations for the summer season.

So are Glacier and Arches national parks www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/art...

A little snow above Boulder Creek, in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Land trust buys scenic Bay Area ranch, halting controversial plan for a quarry One of the South Bay’s largest remaining private rural properties will be protected from new development — and plans for a quarry will be scrapped.

We are often given a false dilemma: Western lands must either become ranches or suburban sprawl.
Ranchers benefit from this myth. But there is a 3rd way: conservation. Protecting nature for everyone.

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

FEMA cuts payouts to local fire departments responding to wildfires The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reducing the reimbursement city and rural fire departments get for responding to wildfires. Fire officials fear it will hamper fire response across the...

Another move by FEMA that could affect disaster response...

The agency is reducing the amount paid to local fire departments for helping fight wildfires in the West www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

Newsom’s Delta tunnel plan hits snag as court rules state lacks authority to issue bonds The pipeline, planned for many years, would allow water shipments to bypass sensitive delta wetlands and reach drier areas in Central and Southern California.

New problem for Newsom's Delta Tunnel...

Court says California doesn't have the authority to issue bonds to pay for the $20 billion water project, throwing the financing into question: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

A dramatic stretch of desert is being proposed as California’s next national monument California’s proposed monument, encompassing a river in one of the hottest and driest corners of the country, would be larger than Yosemite.

The proposed Amargosa Basin National Monument sounds rad. It's beautiful desert, if you've never been there. www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... via @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

Yosemite National Park names new superintendent The new superintendent will face challenges such as crowding, the prospect of wildfires and the poor condition of some of the park’s restaurants and hotels.

New... Yosemite National Park has a new top official: Ray McPadden, the acting chief, named superintendent.

At one of the most popular parks, McPadden will be tested by overcrowding, staff cuts and declining conditions at restaurants and hotels www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Exclusive: Newsom talks climate plans, blasts Trump after Prop 50 win California Gov. Gavin Newsom, fresh off a redistricting win, is planning to travel to COP30 in Brazil next week to showcase America’s resolve for addressing the climate crisis.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, fresh off a redistricting win, is planning to travel to COP30 in Brazil next week to showcase America’s resolve for addressing the climate crisis.

Salmon have flourished since California dam removal. But some may be swimming too far After the largest dam-removal effort in U.S. history, salmon appear to be thriving in the Klamath River, though some are taking a detour.

A year after Klamath River dam removals, salmon are swimming farther than expected, even into irrigation canals near Klamath Falls. Scientists say it’s both a challenge and a sign of recovery.

📰 @kurtisalexander.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com: www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

Salmon reach headwaters for first time in a century after California dam removal Klamath River salmon have crossed a major threshold after dams were removed along the California-Oregon border, with the fish reaching the river’s headwaters for the first time in more than a...

Salmon have finally reached the Klamath River headwaters in Oregon. Amazing. www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... via @kurtisalexander.bsky.social

Image of California Highway 120 leading to snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance. Scrub brush and sand on both sides of the roadway with a double yellow center line. Single white lines mark the edge of the roadway. Some yellow fall colors can be seen below the snow line on the mountain to the left of center.

Fresh snow on the Eastern Sierras near Mono Lake

#Photography 📷 📸 #Leica #fotografía #foto
#Landscape #Sierras

#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.