Evergreen News Stories
Dare Miller
11/11/14
Period 3
Water rights in California are at the center of an ongoing battle between northern and southern California, and between businesses and residents. Even farmers are in the mix, making this a national issue since farmed goods are consumed all over the U.S.
The water level in our California lakes and reservoirs is around 15% of the historic average. Parts of California don’t even have running water. With only about 8 inches of rainfall so far this year, it is getting harder for many residents to get clean water.
Water rights activists says that reduced access to water might be the new normal and it is more important than ever to look at water consumption models especially in New Mexico and Arizona where residents live year round under restricted access to water.
Many think the governor’s office has been slow in calling for water rationing, but Governor Brown says he is creating incentives for businesses and residents to use less water.
Dare Miller
2/1/15
Period 3
Peregrine Falcons
The Castle Rock section of Mount Diablo is going to be closed to the public until July 31, 2015 due peregrine falcons returning to their natural habitat. This is the only pair of Peregrine Falcons left in California. The bird had been nesting around Castle Rock since the late 1800’s, according to district officials. However, in 1950s, the Peregrine Falcon could no longer be found in the wild. The park district says the falcon’s exit resulted from a harmful pesticide known as DDT.
Mount Diablo State Park is a popular site for hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. The Castle Rock area is 200 square acres, which gives the birds plenty of open space to inhabit. Although this may seem like more area than is necessary for the birds to nest, this is only one percent of the entire park region. “How often do you get the chance to turn back the clock?” asks conservation director Seth Adams. “And that’s what we did in this case; we brought a bird back from the brink of extinction.”