As Californians anxiously wait for news about whether their favorite state park will be closed due to financial woes, director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis spoke in Marin on Tuesday about the connection between good health and getting outside. As part of a new national campaign called”Healthy Parks Healthy People,” the park...
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Tags: california, health and nature, healthy parks healthy people, jon jarvis, marin, national park service, state park closures
Posted in Living, Nature, Policy, The Daily Catch | 1 Comment »
Car heavy Marin becoming less so
Marin residents are pulling out their walking shoes and bicycles in higher numbers, a trend attributable to the expansion of bicycle paths. Between 2009 and 2010 there was a 29 percent jump in weekday cycling and a 15 percent gain on the weekends. Pedestrians increased by 4 percent and 3 percent in that time...
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Tags: bicycling, marin, walking
Posted in The Daily Catch, Transportation | No Comments »
Is ocean-water desalination a good way to solve California’s impending water crisis? Conservationists are pushing back on the idea, saying that technology is harmful to the environment because it can entrap wildlife and create byproducts heavily concentrated with salt and chemicals that would be dumped back into the ocean. Desalination also uses a lot...
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Tags: california, desalination, marin, water, wildlife
Posted in Contaminants, Nature, Policy, The Daily Catch | 3 Comments »
Marin coho salmon numbers slip as rains subside
Earlier in the year it looked like Marin’s coho salmon were making a comeback this season. But with the rains subsiding, salmon numbers now run third-lowest in 15 years. One point of hope: a large number of males, called “jacks,” may portend a larger run next year.
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Tags: marin, salmon
Posted in Nature, The Daily Catch | Comments Off
Marin rolling out food composting program
Marin Sanitary Service is rolling out a residential food composting program starting in March in San Rafael and other towns, and has plans to commercial composting for restaurants and other businesses by 2012. Officials say the program will help the city meet its climate action plan. Waste will be sent 90 miles away to...
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Tags: composting, marin, san rafael
Posted in Contaminants, The Daily Catch | 1 Comment »
Marin’s green energy authority cuts rates
Electricity costs for customers of Marin’s independent energy authority are getting a 14 percent rate cut, bringing costs in parity with PG&E. The Marin Energy Authority is well ahead of PG&E in its renewable portfolio with more than 26 percent of the generation from green energy sources. PG&E, which still provides the transmission lines,...
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Tags: marin, marin energy authority, pg&e, renewable energy
Posted in Climate Change & Energy, The Daily Catch | Comments Off
No fog, no towering redwoods
Higher temperatures zap up moisture in the air making for sunnier, less foggy days. California redwoods are not happy with the change. They depend on fog for water. In Muir Woods, in Marin County, a 30 percent drop in fog could stunt redwood growth in the long run, according to a recent report. No...
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Tags: climate change, marin, muir woods, redwoods, warm temperature
Posted in Climate Change & Energy, Nature, The Daily Catch | Comments Off
After rehab, sea lions released into the ocean
PHOTO ESSAY–Giving the phrase “release party” a whole new meaning, the Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands set free four of its rehabilitated pinniped patients onto Rodeo Beach and ushered them toward the sea this weekend. Sea lions Soccer Mom, Rockon, Chance and Contador looked full of vigor and ready to take on...
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Tags: golden gate national recreation area, marin, marine mammal center, sea lion
Posted in Nature | 1 Comment »
Marin outshining the nation
Marin County is outshining the nation in providing the highest amount of renewable energy to its residents — a whopping 78 percent non-fossil, non-nuclear, according to the Marin Energy Authority. As the public authority in charge of providing Marin’s renewable energy alternatives points out, the eco-power is not any more expensive than what regular...
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Tags: marin, marin clean energy program, marin energy authority, renewable energy, solar power
Posted in Field Notes | 3 Comments »