A view from Elk Knob

Credit: James Lautzenheiser

Americans have four new wildlife refuges to celebrate this month! Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recently announced the designation of four new Wildlife Refuges that span five states and diverse ecosystems. Refuge designation for these critical lands and waters will protect them as important pieces of America’s natural heritage for the economic benefit and recreational enjoyment of generations to come. The new Refuges are: Read more

A decommissioned road in Muir Woods National Monument

Credit: Anne Merwin

There has been a lot of talk lately about the nation’s crumbling manmade infrastructure, such as failing bridges, aging highways and faltering transmission lines. But what about our failing natural infrastructure -- our polluted air and waterways, diminishing biodiversity, and unhealthy forests that are the result of unfettered development and short-sighted planning? Read more

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from a reporter at the Redding Record Searchlight. He wanted my response to an agreement between the air quality regulators and the land management agencies that could spell relief for Californians inhaling smoke from forest fires. The Record Searchlight’s readership is pretty much the part of northern California that had 800,000 acres burn in 2008. Much of that burn occurred under conditions that funneled smoke right into the towns of northern California. So smoke is a big deal to the folks who read this newspaper. Region:  California Read more