Latest news with #SierraNevada
CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Boneyard Fire forces evacuations in Tuolumne, Mariposa counties
Several roads were evacuated in the Sierra Nevada foothills due to the Boneyard Fire burning in Tuolumne County Saturday afternoon. According to Cal Fire, the Boneyard Fire has burned about 100 acres in the area of Priest Coulterville Road, south of Highway 120. It broke out around 1:20 p.m. Evacuation orders were issued in parts of Mariposa and Tuolumne County. The orders include Jackass Ridge Road, Jackass Creek and Donkey Lane, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said. In Tuolumne County, evacuation orders were issued for Jackass Creek Road from Merrell Road to the Mariposa County line. In Mariposa County, Cueno Road, Pine Road, Stout Road, Sierra Road and Chapin Road are under evacuation warnings. A temporary evacuation point was established at Lake Don Pedro Elementary School, located at 2411 Hidalgo Street in La Grange. This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical country suffers unprecedented loss that scientists warned about decades ago: 'All that is just a memory'
Tropical country suffers unprecedented loss that scientists warned about decades ago: 'All that is just a memory' The evidence of rising global temperatures is all around us. In Mérida, Venezuela, a city once known for icy snow, the last remaining glacier has shrunk to the size of what scientists call an ice field — making Venezuela, as of 2023, the first country to lose all of its glaciers. What's happening? According to Mongabay, Sierra Nevada de Mérida National Park was once home to over 10 notable glaciers, though their sizes began to decrease in the 19th century, and plummeted much quicker in the 1960s onward. At 75, José Betancourt has summited various glaciers in the park hundreds of times as a guide, mountaineer, and Mérida local. "I would not admit that the glaciers of our Sierra Nevada were going to melt," Betancourt told Mongabay, referencing his heyday summiting the glaciers. La Carona, the last remaining glacier in Venezuela, was once a feat of nature, spanning over 1,100 acres. Now, it's down to less than 5 acres, or about the distance of two football fields. Why is the glacier loss important? Increased temperatures and decreased precipitation in the area are the causes for the diminishing glaciers. Around the world, glaciers can be seen dwindling in hordes, directly linked to the effects of human activity on the planet. With 2024 being the hottest recorded year and with scientists expecting the next five years to continue stealing that record, melting glaciers are the visual embodiment of what is happening to the planet. Betancourt, reflecting on his life and mountaineering, told Mongabay: "We all knew Mérida as the city of 'the eternal snows.' But now, all that is just a memory." What can I do to help slow the rate of lost glaciers? Melting glaciers can be directly tied to increasing temperatures. While fluctuations in temperature and weather have always occurred, the excessive record temperatures, as well as increased natural disasters, point to human activity, such as the burning of dirty fuels. Though government interference in Venezuela attempted to protect the glaciers, almost all environmental experts found their action impulsive and ineffective. In order to promote environmental protection on a large scale in your nation, vote to elect pro-climate candidates. Furthermore, by educating yourself on critical climate issues, you can better understand how actions in your daily life contribute to environmental destruction and find ways to reroute. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
E&E News
6 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
House panel backs total suppression for wildfires
The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday endorsed a return to forest policy of a bygone era, approving a measure to once again suppress wildfires within 24 hours of detection. In approving a bill by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) on a voice vote, the committee backed a more aggressive approach to suppressing fire as a debate swirls about the Forest Service's firefighting capacity. 'We need to return to policies that proved they work, and this is one of them,' said McClintock, who told colleagues he's pursued the bill, H.R. 178, at the urging of local fire departments around the Sierra Nevada region he represents. Advertisement Democrats opposed the bill, saying it would bring back a total suppression policy that allowed forests to become overgrown in much of the last century and thus more vulnerable to wildfire. The practice officially ended in the 1970s.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Watershed restoration in the Sierra aims to protect California's water supply
California legislative staffers and environmental advocates took flight Tuesday to get a rare aerial view of watershed restoration in the Sierra Nevada, a project they say is critical to protecting the state's water supply. Much of California's drinking water begins in places like the Yuba River Watershed, where decades of fire damage and climate change have left ecosystems fragile. From above, the contrast between green recovery zones and fire-scarred forest land was stark. "Eighty percent of Californians drink Yuba water every day," said Aaron Zettler-Mann, Executive Director of the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL). "What happens in these forests affects every tap downstream." The restoration work includes removing invasive plants, planting native trees, and clearing sediment from streams and meadows. Some trees removed are repurposed into biochar, which helps filter toxins from the water system. Since 2020, SYRCL has funneled $23 million into local restoration efforts, hiring regional contractors and supporting environmental jobs. But for the group, it's about more than the economy. "Healthy forests mean healthier watersheds," Zettler-Mann said. "This is about protecting water quality for people across the state." Legislative staffers say the experience made the issue hit home. "We need to do more in the Sierra Nevadas to protect our forests, air, and water," said Andrew Nickens, legislative director for Assemblymember Heather Hadwick. "This isn't just an environmental issue, it's a public health issue." The tour was organized by EcoFlight, a nonprofit that uses aviation to highlight environmental issues.
The Guardian
17-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Rescuers find mom and son lost in California forest thanks to ‘help' notes
A mother and her nine-year-old-son who got lost in a remote California forest while on their way to a Boy Scouts camp were rescued after a search crew found notes the pair had left behind. The notes weighed down by rocks with 'HELP' written at the top said they were stranded up the road with no phone service. A volunteer search-and-rescue team that was training in the Sierra Nevada foothills found the pair on Saturday, a day after they had set out for the camp, according to the Calaveras county sheriff's office. The woman and her son got lost on Friday after they left the Sacramento area and their GPS had directed them on to old logging roads deep into the forest, said Lt Greg Stark, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office. They eventually lost their GPS signal and then got stuck about 10 miles (16km) from the nearest paved road, Stark said. They were reported missing the next day after not showing up at the camp. The county's volunteer search team initially narrowed down the pair's last known spot from a location-sharing app and then heard from campers who saw the woman's missing car a day earlier, the sheriff's office said. About four hours after being dispatched, the search team found the first note that read: 'HELP. Me and my son are stranded with no service and can't call 911. We are ahead, up the road to the right. Please call 911 to get help for us. Thank you!' The team found a second note up the road, and then about a mile later they found the woman and her son, where their car had gotten stuck, the sheriff's office said. The pair had spent the night in the car with a cooler full of food and drinks they had packed for a few days at the camp, Stark said. Authorities credited the pair with alerting others where they were going and when they would arrive and staying where they were once they got lost. The boy also used his whistle to sound three short bursts – a signal for help that Scouts are taught. 'They did everything right,' Stark said. 'They put themselves in the best position to be found.'
