California Blog #40: Keeping California Beautiful

 The following blog is a very special report, and it's really important.

As you may know, there are many natural disasters that happened in the past years. There were heat waves, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, even wildfires. But for the Golden state, it needs our help.

There's been plenty of wildfires, droughts, and heat waves in the state of California, and it needs normal rain, more water, less wildfires, and more support for wildlife, marine life, and agriculture, clean air, electricity, others.

Just to be clear, it's time for all of us to review what happened here in the Golden state.

From the year 2017 to 2020, there were too many wildfires that happened in California. So first off, let's start with the Thomas Fire. In December 2017, the Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and one of multiple wildfires that ignited in southern California. On Dec. 4th, the fire was first reported by a nearby resident at 6:26 p.m. PST, to the north of Santa Paula, near Steckel Park and Thomas Aquinas College, after which the fire is named. The small brush fire exploded in size and raced through the rugged mountain terrain that lies west of Santa Paula, between Ventura and Ojai that night. Officials blamed strong Santa Ana winds that gusted up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) for the sudden expansion. Those Santa Ana winds were too strong to gust at the wrong time. If you can see the satellite image of the fire, this is what it looked like.

The Thomas Fire destroyed at least 1,063 structures, while damaging 280 others; and the fire caused over $2.2 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $230 million in suppression costs, becoming the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history at the time. Even the Thomas Fire burned down over 500 homes in the city of Ventura.

USA Today says in this article "To rebuild after Thomas Fire, this Ventura family is subdividing their lot for five homes."

The good news in the future is that homes will be rebuilt here in Ventura, CA. It might take a little while before the town gets rebuilt soon.

On July 27, 2018 to January 4, 2019, there was a Mendocino Complex fire that burned in northern California for more than three months. It consisted of two wildfires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, which burned in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, and Glenn Counties in the U.S. State of California, with the Ranch Fire being California's single-largest recorded wildfire at the time until the Dixie Fire in 2021. The Ranch Fire burned eight miles northeast of Ukiah, and the River Fire burned six miles north of Hopland, to the south of the larger Ranch Fire. First reported on July 27th, 2018, both fires burned a combined total of 459,123 acres (1,858 km2), before they were collectively 100% contained on September 18th, though hotspots persisted until the complex was fully brought under control on January 4th, 2019.

From July 23, 2018 to January 4, 2019, the Carr Fire was a large wildfire that burned in Shasta and Trinity Counties in California, United States. The fire burned 229,651 acres (92,936 ha; 359 sq mi), before it was 100% contained late on August 30, 2018. The Carr Fire destroyed at least 1,604 structures (at least 1,077 were homes) while damaging 277 others, becoming at the time the sixth-most destructive fire in California history (now the seventh-most destructive fire), as well as the twelfth-largest wildfire recorded in modern California history (seventh-largest at the time).[9] The Carr Fire cost over $1.659 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $1.5 billion in insured losses and more than $158.7 million in suppression costs. It destroyed multiple towns around Whiskeytown Lake. At its height, the fire engaged as many as 4,766 personnel from multiple agencies. The fire was reported on the afternoon of July 23, 2018, at the intersection of Highway 299 and Carr Powerhouse Road, in the Whiskeytown district of the Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area. Coincidental to the name of the incident, the fire was started when a flat tire on a vehicle caused the wheel's rim to scrape against the asphalt, creating sparks that set off the fire. On July 26, the fire jumped the Sacramento River, making its way into the city of Redding, causing the evacuation of 38,000 people. Evacuations also took place in Summit City, Keswick, Lewiston, Shasta Lake City, Igo, Ono, and French Gulch. Eight people died in the fire, including three firefighters.

Okay enough with the wildfire stories, and let's get to the next important part of the story.

'How to Prevent a Drought'

Studies shows that the historical and ongoing droughts in California result from various complex meteorological phenomena, some of which are not fully understood by scientists. Drought is generally defined as “a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time (usually a season or more), resulting in a water shortage.” A lack of rainfall (or snowfall) or precipitation in meager quantities, higher than average temperatures and dry air masses in the atmosphere commonly underlie drought conditions; these natural factors are further complicated by increases in populations and water demands. Since the California water supply is attained from numerous sources, fulfilled by varied and intricate weather patterns, there is no one cause of drought. California is not only the most populous state and largest agricultural producer in the United States, it is also the most biodiverse; as such, drought in California can have a far reaching economic and environmental impacts. That's what climate change is having a real impact on the lives of many communities here and around the world, and we must do something about it. So the ways to prevent droughts in California is to save water and preserve water. That's part of the many small changes that can make a big difference.

Here's some things you can do to help a drought in California with a little help with some conservation tips to talk about.

Indoor Conservation Tips

Fix leaks, including leaky toilets.

Install high-efficiency toilets, aerators on bathroom faucets, and water-efficient shower heads.

Take shorter (5 minute) showers.

Track your water bill and meter to curtail water use.

Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving.

Use dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only.

Outdoor Conservation Tips

Plant drought-tolerant/resistant plants and trees.

Recycle indoor water to use on plants.

Refrain from watering your home landscape when it rains.

Replace your grass/turf with water-wise plants.

Use a broom to clean driveways, patios, and sidewalks instead of water from a hose.

Water your outdoor landscape earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler.

Do these sound good to you?

Now let's learn about heat waves that happened here in Los Angeles.

The immediate cause of the heat wave is an unusually strong area of high pressure, or heat dome, that is parked over the western U.S., causing air to sink and dry out, stifling any widespread rainfall.

So here's some things to do next time when there's a heat wave in your community.

1. Stay cool indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.

2. Wear appropriate clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.

3. Don't use an electric fan when the indoor air temperature is over 95°F.

4. Use your stove and oven less.

5. Always stay hydrated and don't overheat.

6. When outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen that says "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection." 

7. Schedule outdoor work and other activities carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it's coolest, such as morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.

8. Cut down on exercise during the heat. Stay connected with your friends and family too.

9. Keep your pets hydrated too.

10. Never leave infants, children, older adults, individuals with disabilities or pets in a vehicle unattended. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open.

Now do you get the picture?

Here's what you shouldn't do during a heat wave:

Don't drink alcohol, sugary soda, coffee, energy drinks, or other caffeinated beverages, as they dehydrate you! That's the last thing you need during a heat wave. Eat small meals and eat more often. Eat food with nutrients (not empty carbs) and also food with higher water content (fruits and vegetables).

And those were all your tips on environmental stories and others.

Before I stop, here's a special story about an ocean and shore protection program in Los Angeles.

In case you know, Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit established in 1985 that is dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean. Sept. 17th was Coastal Cleanup Day. Beach and neighborhood cleanups are just the beginning. Heal the Bay staff work to mobilize LA’s diverse communities to protect our coastline, restore our waterways, and speak out for clean water policy across our watersheds. There's also an aquarium there. Steps from the ocean, an underwater wonderland awaits. This kid-friendly Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier features 100+ species of marine life that live right offshore.

In the future, the state of California will have more water for lakes, rivers, beaches, and ponds, and less droughts and wildfires, and we'd hope that it'll happen soon. Together, we can make a difference and we can all work together to make not just California but the world a better place.

Now when you read this blog today or on Earth Day next year, you might understand why it's important for us to envision a productive, vibrant, and sustainable California.

This has been a special report of the California blog. Dedicated to everyone in California who are making a big difference.