After nearly 15 years at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz, executive director Stephen Slade is set to retire this summer. Before that, Lookout caught up with the long-time environmentalist about his conservation work, the biggest challenges he faced and the future of conservation in Santa Cruz County.
Environment
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Rep. Jimmy Panetta, other lawmakers aim to free up $120M-plus to protect monarch butterfly from extinction
A pair of Democratic lawmakers — including U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, whose district includes Santa Cruz County — introduced two bills Wednesday to tap federal dollars to help protect the struggling species.
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SPECIAL REPORT: With world’s major kelp forests in jeopardy, sea otters coming to the rescue in Monterey Bay
Global warming has disrupted the delicate ecological dance of sea otters, urchins and kelp. But in Monterey Bay, small patches of kelp continue to thrive, and new research credits their survival to the otters.
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Land Trust Executive Director Stephen Slade to retire this summer
Stephen Slade, the executive director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, will retire this summer after 15 years with the Land Trust.
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Water 101: With big changes afoot countywide, everything you need to know about what’s coming out of your tap
As climate change takes root, several water districts are taking steps to prepare for the future. And even without the added stressor of rainfall changes, maintaining a steady, clean, affordable supply of water to customers is a difficult feat.
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New electric vehicle incentive offered to customers of 3CE in Santa Cruz County, elsewhere
Central Coast Community Energy is offering a new electric vehicle incentive program that will offer up to $5,000 for qualified customers.
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‘The landscape of fear’: Big cats pay a price for avoiding areas now inhabited by humans
Mountain lions burn a lot of extra calories when they are trying to navigate highly developed areas. To save precious energy, male lions reduce their range dramatically, according to new research from UCSC.
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As warming oceans bring tough times to California crab fishers, scientists say diversifying is key
A study of the 2014 marine heat wave suggests that fishermen who turn to other species will fare better in future climate disruptions.
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Sea lions are dying from a mysterious cancer. The culprits? Herpes and DDT
Scientists have found that sea lions exposed to DDT and other chemicals in the ocean are more likely to die from a herpes-induced cancer. ‘It is extraordinary, the level of pollutants in these animals in California,’ one says.
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CZU burn scar is geologically different — and that might be reducing debris-flow risk
Experts are hopeful the CZU burn scar might be more resistant to debris flows than was previously believed. But officials are still being extremely cautious given Wednesday’s heavy rains.