Here’s your Friday nature news digest:
- Gov. Brown declares CA drought emergency. [San Jose Mercury]
- River otters making a strong comeback in Marin and around the Bay Area. [Marin Independent Journal]
- Comment period for Marin GGNRA dog leash plan gets extension. [Marin Independent Journal]
- American River flows at lowest level in 21 years. [Sacramento Bee]
- Low-tech measures can ease California’s water woes. [San Jose Mercury]
- California more than doubles solar energy in 2013. [Huffington Post]
- West Coast sardine crash could radiate throughout ecosystem. [Los Angeles Times]
- Biologists to study impact of dry conditions on migrating fish. [Napa Valley Register]
- Why west coast sea life has been out and about. [The Atlantic]
- Water officials consider conservation tactics as Lake Mendocino shrinks. [Press Democrat]
- California’s pot farms could leave salmon runs truly smoked. [NPR]
- Drought imperils California salmon and steelhead. [Contra Costa Times]
- Report finds SF water unaffected by Rim Fire. [SF Examiner]
- Drakes Bay Oyster Co. plans appeal after latest court defeat. [Press Democrat]
- Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park poised for approval of plastic bag ban. [Press Democrat]
- Christmas bird count shows, Point Reyes alluring as ever. [Point Reyes Light]
- Sunrise, sunset: Bay Area revels in spectacular skies thanks to rain-free winter. [San Jose Mercury]
- Shellfish harvest resuming in Tomales bay. [Point Reyes Light]
- Janet Napolitano calls for 20 percent cut in water use at University of California. [San Francisco Business Times]
- California experiencing driest year ever, and it may get worse.[Huffington Post]
- What’s causing California’s drought? [San Jose Mercury]
- Lawsuit over Petaluma bird deaths settled. [Press Democrat]
- National Weather Service announces three more months of dry weather in CA likely. [San Jose Mercury]