In the News
Congressman Joe Neguse Calls For A National Biodiversity Strategy, Rejoining Paris Climate Agreement
by Sam Brasch
In the fossil record of the far future, the legacy of human civilization could look a lot like an asteroid impact. Below a line of sediment, future paleontologists would find an abundance of plant and animal life. Above it, there would be a far more narrow range of fossils, pointing toward an extinction event at some point in Earth's distant past - right around the present moment. Most scientists agree such an event is currently playing out across the planet. According to a recent UN panel … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Tuleyome Tales: A second chance for Eel River salmon and steelhead?
by Victoria Brandon
For many years PG&E has operated the "Potter Valley Project," a hydroelectric facility on the main stem of the Eel River consisting of Scott and Cape Horn dams and a tunnel diverting water into the Russian River watershed, where it is used to generate a small amount of electricity and for irrigation by farmers in Potter Valley and farther south in Sonoma County. The construction of Scott Dam in 1922 completely blocked passage of critically imperiled anadromous fish including salmon, … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Historic deal refreshes plans for major dam removal
by Jeremy P. Jacobs
America's largest dam removal project has been brought back to life with a new agreement among California, Oregon, tribes and a utility owned by billionaire Warren Buffett. The decadeslong effort to remove four dams on the Klamath River in Northern California that have had a devastating impact on salmon runs had appeared in danger following an unexpected July regulatory order. But in an emotional and triumphant online press conference yesterday, major stakeholders praised a new agreement that … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
'A New Era For California Tribes'; Agreement Breathes New Life Into Klamath River Dam Removal
by Jessica Cejnar
Berkshire Hathaway's PacifiCorp has signed onto a new agreement with Oregon, California, the Yurok and Karuk tribes paving the way forward toward Klamath River dam removal in 2023. The memorandum of agreement advances the "most ambitious salmon restoration effort in history," establishing the Klamath River Renewal Corporation as the entity in charge of removing four obsolete dams, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham announced during an online event that … Continue Reading
November 14, 2020
What a Biden Administration could mean for Klamath water
by Alex Schwartz
Reposted to KPVI News and Blue Mountain Eagle. When the Associated Press called the presidential race for Joe Biden, stakeholders in local water issues started preparing for a federal shakeup. The last three administrations have been considerably active in Klamath Basin issues regardless of political party. Negotiations for a basin-wide agreement began under the Bush Administration and continued under the Obama Administration until faltering in the House of Representatives - though … Continue Reading
November 01, 2020
Fight climate change, preserve nature in one stroke
by Jonathan Parfrey
Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a first-in-the-nation pledge to protect 30% of the state's land and water by 2030. This historic executive order will require significant conservation action from our leaders. Thankfully, numerous members of Congress are currently working to pass legislation to protect critical public lands and waters across the state which would help California meet our new "30×30" target. This legislation would in one stroke help safeguard biodiversity, contain … Continue Reading
October 31, 2020
Jared Huffman co-sponsors daylight saving time bill
by Ruth Schneider
Many Americans have expressed a desire to not have an extra hour of 2020. But this year's daylight saving time ends 2 a.m. Sunday when Californians will be asked to set the clock back one hour. U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) said it's time for another option and he is co-sponsoring a bill with a Utah Republican that, if passed, would allow states to observe daylight saving time all year round. "I've had a bee in my bonnet about this for years," Huffman told the Times-Standard on … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Preparing to Fall Back, Huffman Touts Daylight Saving Bill
by Thadeus Greenson
With Californians staring down the reality of moving their clocks back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, North Coast Representative Jared Huffman is touting a bill he's co-sponsoring that would allow states the option of staying on daylight savings time all year.When the clocks fall back Sunday morning, we'll gain an hour of sleep but lose an hour of daylight. Huffman isn't too bullish on the tradeoff, and remains hopeful the bill he's co-sponsored with Rep. Bob Bishop (R-Utah) will get some traction … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Humanist in the House
by Roy Speckhardt
IN MY MANY YEARS of service to the humanist movement, this is the first time I've had the honor to personally introduce the Humanist of the Year, and I couldn't be more pleased to do so. After meeting Representative Jared ?Huffman (D-CA) back in September of 2017, I was struck by his open approach, his genuine commitment to humanity and the environment, and his deep respect for people from every kind of background and belief. He subsequently made news across the nation when he went public as a … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Humanist in the House
by Roy Speckhardt
IN MY MANY YEARS of service to the humanist movement, this is the first time I've had the honor to personally introduce the Humanist of the Year, and I couldn't be more pleased to do so. After meeting Representative Jared ?Huffman (D-CA) back in September of 2017, I was struck by his open approach, his genuine commitment to humanity and the environment, and his deep respect for people from every kind of background and belief. He subsequently made news across the nation when he went public as a … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Protecting our public lands is a national health issue
by Maite Arce
In recent months we've seen an outpouring of interest in visiting parks and rivers nationwide. As someone who loves spending time outdoors, I can relate to anyone who seeks comfort and relaxation in nature - especially right now. Studies suggest that access to the outdoors can reduce risks for diabetes, improve heart health and promote mental health. Many of us are coping with the pandemic by visiting neighborhood green spaces to relieve stress, breathe fresh air and hear birds singing. … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Influential California congressman opposes Sonoma County-backed plan to drain Lake Pillsbury
by Guy Kovner
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi has filed an official objection to a plan backed by Sonoma County and his House Democratic colleague Jared Huffman to remove Scott Dam on the Eel River and drain Lake Pillsbury, a popular recreation spot for nearly a century. Garamendi, a fixture in California state politics since the 1970s, sent a letter to federal energy regulators faulting the plan for failing to include Lake County in planning the future of a remote hydropower project that forms a key link in the … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Rep. Jared Huffman introduces Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act
by Megan Bender
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman introduced the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act on Tuesday in a live virtual press conference. Huffman said the bill lays out a roadmap for leveraging the oceans’ carbon sequestration and renewable energy potential while boosting the climate resiliency of marine and coastal ecosystems and coastal communities. According to Huffman like the House Democrats’ Climate Crisis Action Plan, the new bill … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Klamath Residents, Yurok Tribal Members To Participate in 'Day of Action' Targeting PacifiCorp, Warren Buffett and Gates Foundation Over Dam Removal
by Jessica Cejnar
Yurok Tribal members and Klamath residents will take part in a series of demonstrations Friday targeting PacifiCorp, Warren Buffett and others over dam removal on the river they and others rely on. Virtual rallies will be held at the utility's headquarters in Portland and in Buffett's hometown of Omaha, Neb., according to a Save California Salmon news release. A rally will also be held in Seattle, home of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the top shareholder in Buffett's Berkshire … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Several Lawmakers Denied Access to Postal Facilities
by Rebecca Smith
Efforts by some members of Congress to observe firsthand how mail is being processed at large facilities in the final weeks of the election have been blocked-a policy departure by the U.S. Postal Service for visits that were once routinely approved, the lawmakers said. It's unclear how many lawmakers have sought access to postal plants, but at least five, all Democrats, said they'd received inconsistent explanations for the denials. Rep. Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democrat, visited a … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Offshore wind research to continue with data collection
by Sonia Waraich
Humboldt State University's Schatz Energy Research Center has wrapped up its webinars on its first set of offshore wind research publications, and the state and federal government are continuing to supply funding to keep that research continuing into the coming years. "We are keen on having the best available science in all our of decision-making," Necy Sumait, chief of renewable energy in the Pacific region with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said at the final virtual webinar in the … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Democrats push expansion of offshore wind, block offshore drilling with ocean energy bill
by Rebecca Beitsch
A new bill from House Democrats turns to the oceans as a way to fight climate change, proposing to expand offshore wind while barring drilling along America's coasts. The more than 300-page legislation is broadly billed as a "blue carbon" bill - a way to harvest clean energy while protecting fisheries and resources like marshes and wetlands that can store carbon and protect eroding shorelines. The Ocean Based Climate Solutions Act, introduced Tuesday, comes as the ocean is rapidly warming … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Offshore wind research to continue with data collection
by Sonia Waraich
Humboldt State University's Schatz Energy Research Center has wrapped up its webinars on its first set of offshore wind research publications, and the state and federal government are continuing to supply funding to keep that research continuing into the coming years. "We are keen on having the best available science in all our of decision-making," Necy Sumait, chief of renewable energy in the Pacific region with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said at the final virtual webinar in the … Continue Reading
October 19, 2020
RBG and the 116th Congress: Dispatches from Mark Dann, FFRF’s rep on Capitol Hill
by Mark Dann
If there's a common thread in my thoughts from Capitol Hill this year, it's the combination of dark and light moments: pessimism and fear coupled with tangible examples of victories and reasons for optimism. Like many of you, I'm living this emotional conflict. On one side, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died and a zealous ideologue, Amy Coney Barrett, has been nominated to "replace" her. On the other side, I'm optimistic because of the gains we have made in Congress and with the … Continue Reading
October 17, 2020
Yurok, Tolowa Dee-Ni’ tribes receive education grants
The U.S. Department of Education is awarding over $1.5 million in federal funding to the Yurok and Tolowa Dee-Ni' tribes in California's Second District. The Demonstration Grants have been awarded to evaluate and expand school services for Native children. Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), who represents the Tribes in California's Second District, said adequate funding is critical in ensuring the success of all students, especially Native American students who are often more … Continue Reading