Local Environmental News

The KRCB Newsroom’s ongoing environmental reporting covers the intersection of energy, food production, and the environment in the North Bay. Our newsroom reports on topics like geothermal production, the dismantling of dams on Northern California rivers, river and groundwater access for food and wine production and much more. The KRCB News team is committed to shining a light on environmental issues affecting our communities.
 
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CAL FIRE truck
May 12, 2025

Federal funding cuts could worsen wildfire season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has experienced staffing cuts and could see further loss of funding, potentially impacting red flag warnings, prescribed burns, and more.
Michelle Marques
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Nov 15, 2023

Lawsuit chugs on as county's groundwater wells keep pumping

After settling one lawsuit accusing Sonoma County of harming local rivers and aquatic habitats by not keeping tabs on underground aquifers, environmental groups are taking the county back…
Noah Abrams, Marc Albert, and Greta Mart
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Jul 12, 2023

Seaside power plant proposed near Fort Ross

Ocean-side power plant proposal raising enviro concerns Marc Albert/KRCB Sonoma County coast Federal regulators have given the go-ahead for a Texas-based company to study building a large…
Marc Albert
DoranBeach3189
Mar 24, 2020

All Parks Closed in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, ordered the closure of all parks in Sonoma County. The order went into effect on March 24 and did not list an end date. The order comes after…
Adia White
IMG 1661
Nov 26, 2019

On Thanksgiving, Remembering an Anniversary

On November 20, 1969, American Indian activists traveled to Alcatraz to begin an occupation of the prison island. It lasted 19 months. They were focused on the sovereignty and lost rights…
Steve Mencher
russian river guerneville wikimedia
Nov 13, 2019

Impacts Expected on Russian River After Kincade Fire

The Russian River provides water to as many as 700,000 local residents; close to a million visitors use the river for recreation in the summer. Reporter Pamela Lorence visited Healdsburg…
Steve Mencher
Power Lines
Oct 14, 2019

Fire Survivors React to Power Shut-off

Millions of Californians had their power shut off last week by Pacific Gas and Electric Company as a way to help prevent wildfires from starting during dangerous conditions. As part of a…
Adia White
IMG 1282
Jun 27, 2019

Experts Showcase Fire Resistant Building Materials

As we head into summer, homeowners are looking for ways to protect their properties from wildfire. KRCB's Adia White attended an event at the Santa Rosa Junior College Training Center…
Adia White
SMART Train 2017 Santa Rosa wikimedia resize
May 30, 2019

Citizen Input Sought for Santa Rosa's Future

In 2009, Santa Rosa created a state-mandated plan that looked ahead to the year 2035. The plan made certain assumptions, and was created to optimize the city’s chance to thrive. That was…
Steve Mencher
Cal trans crew
Mar 13, 2019

Landslide Threatens Several Homes in Forestville

The sun came out Monday and local residents enjoyed one of the most beautiful days of winter this year. It’s an important time to remember that many are still struggling to recover from the…
Adia White
living lead calumet lives matter ropeik small
Dec 28, 2018

Living with Lead: 'Like Crabs in a Barrel'

Today we’re concluding the previews of our podcast Living Downstream. Producers Annie Ropeik and Nicholas Janzen bring us the story of a public housing project in East Chicago, Indiana. It…
Steve Mencher
Clint McKay shows Allison Herrera some shots of the burn zone immediately after the fire sm
Dec 24, 2018

Native Fire Practices Can Make Communities Safer

During this holiday season, we’re going to be presenting excerpts from Living Downstream: The Environmental Justice Podcast. Northern California Public Media launched the project this fall…
Steve Mencher
James Gore Economic Summit
Nov 21, 2018

Santa Rosa Hosts 2018 California Economic Summit

Santa Rosa hosted the 2018 California Economic Summit on November 15th and 16th. Policy makers, business leaders and others came from across California to talk about how to improve the…
Adia White
obama better climate
Nov 16, 2018

Climate Summit Contest: Unlikely Company Wins Funding

This fall, Califormia Governor Jerry Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg were among the leaders convening an international climate action summit in San Francisco. Their…
Steve Mencher
Camp Fire wikimedia
Nov 15, 2018

Displaced Camp Fire Evacuees Consider What Comes Next

At least 56 people have been killed in the Camp Fire burning in Butte County. The fire is now 140,000 acres and 40 percent contained. Thousands of evacuees are still displaced from the fire…
Adia White
Alejandro Lopez
Nov 14, 2018

Poor Air Quality Poses Health Hazard for Workers

Firefighters continue to battle the Camp Fire burning in Butte County, which is now at 135,000 acres and 35 percent contained. Air quality conditions throughout the North Bay remain poor…
Adia White
grape stomp 2 1
Sep 28, 2018

Grape Stomping Ushers in the Harvest Season

We are continuing our coverage of this year’s grape harvest. In the second part of this series, KRCB reporter Adia White tells us how grapes are processed after they are picked. At the Old…
Adia White
Basket Carry 2
Sep 28, 2018

Grape Harvest Underway Across the North Bay

The grape harvest is underway across our region. KRCB Reporter Adia White went to pick grapes with the crew at Santa Rosa's Old World Winery during their second harvest of the year. This…
Adia White
climate march 9 8 18
Sep 11, 2018

Climate Summit Takes Over San Francisco

by Caryl Hart Climate change is widely acknowledged as one of the most pressing problems in the world today. The Global Climate Action Summit, September 12-14 in San Francisco, will gather…
Steve Mencher
Monarchs reith cropped
Aug 29, 2018

Monarchs and Milkweed: Giving Butterflies a Boost

Monarch butterflies, those gorgeous creatures with the “stained glass” bodies, have been in decline for years, largely because it’s hard for larvae to find food. At a recent farmers market…
Steve Mencher

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