drought

Nevada climate experts say recent storms will do little to stem the tide of Nevada’s long-term extreme drought. Several climate officials, water experts and university professors met Thursday at the first meeting of t...

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of June 10, 2015 and beyond.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of June 3 and beyond.

Low maintenance, drought tolerant lavender provides Nevada's small farms with many options for producing value-added products and year-round sales.

Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute offers a daylong workshop “Lavender, Producing Value-added Commercial Products” on Friday, June 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Jeanne Dini Center, 120 N. California St., in Yerington. Cost is $30 for those registering by June 12, $40 afterward. Lunch is included, and seating is limited. Online registration is available at www.wnc.edu/ce/sci/.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of May 27, 2015 and beyond.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This report is from May 20 to May 27, 2015.

It’s Wildfire Awareness Month at Tahoe, and with the summer tourist season around the corner, we must all remember that drought has left our Region with severely dry forest conditions and an extreme risk of wildfire. This summer we need to think about “when” not “if” another fire will happen. All of us have important roles to play in preventing the next wildfire, and in making sure our homes, families, and communities are prepared for it.

Trees add significant value to a property. They provide financial benefit for resale, aesthetic value, climate control, wildlife habitat, water and soil protection and air pollution mitigation. In a drought, trees have a few adaptive defense mechanisms that help to reduce water loss. However, over extended periods of drought, tree growth and appearance can suffer and trees may die.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of May 13 and beyond.

The Nature Conservancy, working with federal, state and local agencies, as well as a private landowner, are collaborating on a forest restoration project designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires, protect onsite and neighboring structures, protect water supplies for people and enhance wildlife habitat near Carson City.

In a continuing effort to help increase the population of Bi-State sage grouse, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to address major threats to the population within an area located in Lyon and Mineral counties.

May is Nevada Wildfire Awareness month. Each year the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, other program partners and corporate sponsors, work together to educate Nevadans on living with wildfire. Much of western Nevada is a high fire hazard environment, especially in this drought year.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of May 6 and beyond.

I first heard about the Rodale Institute a few decades ago when I used to read their “Organic Gardening” magazine. They have been around for 60 years researching and teaching organic gardening. Through the years, I have turned to the Institute and their well-written books when I wanted reputable information on organic growing.

With a fourth year of drought and spring temperatures climbing, Carson City residents are urged to be fire safe. May is Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month and as conditions continue to dry, and the number of windy days begin to increase, the potential threat of wildfire grows.

Protecting your home starts with you. The wildfire season is here. This Saturday and Sunday, the Carson City Fire Department will hold two events designed for homeowners to prepare for the season.

There will be a Community Open House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Extreme drought in the West draws attention to what a precious resource water is. Of all the water on Earth, only a small amount is available for us to use. Since 97 percent is salt water, there is only three percent fresh water for the world to survive on. Of that, slightly over two percent is stuck in glaciers and icecaps.

Yet, even with such a small percentage of fresh water available, we put 50 percent of our home water into our landscapes, often wasting about 50 percent of that by applying it ineffectively or unnecessarily.

This is my annual reminder that it’s almost time to have fun fishing in the Golden State once again. On Saturday, April 25 the 2015 fishing season will open for all applicable lakes, reservoirs, streams, creeks and rivers in the State of California.

That season will then remain open until Saturday, Nov. 15. If you’re new to this area, here’s some information that can be useful if you would like to fish on that Opening Day or for the entire Opening Weekend:

A thunderstorm has developed in Carson City this afternoon bringing rain, lightning and small hail to the area. As of 3 p.m. there were no National Weather Service advisories.
Today's forecast calls for the rain to continue, with an 80 percent chance of showers for Carson City and Carson Valley. There's a 30 percent chance of rain for Thursday and a slight chance of showers Friday and Saturday.
The rain is welcome given our drought conditions, but the lightning always leaves room for caution. Thus far there hasn't been any reports of lightning caused fires around Carson City.

With drought gripping Nevada and much of the West, the state’s top water official and a state senator said it’s time to inventory just how much water there is and who owns what by tidying up the books on “vested” water rights that pre-date state law....

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of April 22 and beyond. Opening weekend for fishing on most California waters is Saturday.

You have to adapt to changes in life or you won't survive, a Lake Tahoe area ski resort management executive and Tahoe South stalwart John Rice told business leaders this week at a Lake Tahoe Community College forum.

"Change is happening, Clearly we're in a drought, whether it's here for short term, or long term, time will tell," said Rice, the vice president and general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe, long considered one of the nation's best managed, economically and environmentally efficient ski resorts. "The ski industry has the most to lose in a drought."

The fourth consecutive year of drought in California and Nevada emphasizes the need for communities to become fire adapted. The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team implements forest thinning, prescribed fire and defensible space programs to reduce wildfire risk, but they need the public’s help to create Fire Adapted Communities at Lake Tahoe.

Western Nevada College celebrates Mother Earth with a variety of activities and free film screenings at the Carson City and Fallon campuses. The events are designed to generate conversation and enhance understanding about the environment.

“Dry Season" - Noon-1:30 p.m. WNC Joe Dini Library
Explores the devastating effects of drought and deforestation in the U.S. and across the world as it relates to climate change, uprisings, war, and unemployment.
Snacks, door prizes and discussions will follow the screening.
Admission: Free.

Western Nevada College
2201 W. College Parkway

The University of California, Davis and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency recently released their yearly water clarity readings for Lake Tahoe. The good news: Mid-lake water clarity improved significantly in 2014, with an average reading of 77.8 feet. That’s 7.5 feet greater than the average reading for 2013, and almost 14 feet greater than the 64.1 feet measured in 1997, Lake Tahoe’s lowest recorded clarity.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of April 15, 2015. Reminder: Opening Day for California fishing season is April 25.

Western Nevada College celebrates Mother Earth with a variety of activities and free film screenings at the Carson City and Fallon campuses. The events are designed to generate conversation and enhance understanding about the environment.

In addition, Geology Professor Winnie Kortemeier will offer a free lecture on the Geology of America’s National Parks on Friday May 1.

Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, told fellow members of Senate Finance on Thursday the bill putting $500,000 into cloud seeding efforts this coming biennium is vital because of the drought.“We already recognize that, a...

We are into the first part of the month of April, winter is behind us, and the outlook is grim for the rest of the year due to our prolonged drought. Here are some things that are currently occurring and will probably occur:

Snow: Our Sierra Nevada snowpack is either non-existent or minimal at best. There are very few snowdrifts across higher elevation hiking trails. Deep snowfields and snowdrifts in the mountains are things of the past. The peaks are bare rather than smooth white with lots of snow.

Governor Sandoval creates Nevada drought forumWASHOE VALLEY — Standing amid the tufts of grass poking through the sandy bottom of what used to be Washoe Lake, Gov. Brian San...

With Nevada withering in a fourth year of drought, Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday announced formation of a panel of experts to explore a situation creating widespread problems across the nation's most arid state.

The Nevada Drought Forum — composed of state resource agency officials, local water providers, scientists and other experts — is expected to release a list of suggested ways to respond to extended drought by the end of the year.