1. A new lawsuit in the delta smelt world. This one was filed last Thursday by the Pacific Legal Foundation, and claims that the application of the Endangered Species Act to the delta smelt is unconstitutional because the fish has no commercial value.
2. A favorable judgment for California farmers/potentially unfavorable judgment for delta smelt. Basically, folks managing water diversions must reconsider the impacts that export reductions have on the state's farmers.
3. A real-life Chinatown scenario involving California's environmental water account, designed to buffer the effects fo reduced water flows from the Delta, and a wealthy Beverly Hills businessman.
4. The Nature Conservancy released a report on Thursday on the condition of shellfish reefs in temperate estuaries worldwide. The authors note that in 70% of bays and 63% of marine ecoregions, oyster populations have experienced population decline of >90% from historic levels. The paper cites five actions critical to improving the condition of shellfish beds: improve protection efforts, restore and recover reefs, manage fisheries sustainably, stop the spread of exotic shellfish, and improve water quality. Here's a brief teaser from the TNC blog.
5. I will be working with Eco Brooklyn to source materials, design, and build a green roof on their show house in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Check their blog here for more information, though I will post my research findings, etc. here as well.
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