2024 ARCHIVES
URBAN WATER USE
with Barbara Vlamis
Eco 736 26 March 2024
with Barbara Vlamis
Eco 736 26 March 2024
Our guest in the studio was Barbara Vlamis, Executive Director of AquAlliance, an organization which has as its goals: “defending northern California waters and challenging threats to the hydrologic health of the northern Sacramento River watershed.” Barbara recently alerted us to new regulations being developed by the State Water Control Board aimed at conserving 400,000 acre feet per year over coming decades through restrictions on urban water use. Their program is called “Making Conservation a California Way of Life.” The proposed regulations are quite complex, and asked her to help us understand them and how they might affect Chico in years to come.
Questions:
–What are the overarching aims of State Water Board in this project?
–How would it work?
–What is the time frame for implementation?
–Who is responsible for implementation? How are individual water users affected?
–Who in Chico would be responsible? How has Chico performed in water reduction in recent years?
--Are the new regs actually enforceable?
–-You wrote to some AquAlliance supporters that on the surface the aims “seem reasonable.” What do you see as the positive aspects of the program?
–You also wrote that you have areas of “grave concern.” What are some of your concerns? (parcel size, food, shade) Would Chico’s previous reductions prior to the new regs be taken into account?
Moving on to other AquAlliance concerns:
–We know that Southern California has what is frequently called “an unquenchable thirst” for California waters. What are some of those threats to “our” water? Tell us about:
... proposed water transfers (explain conjunctive use)
... the Tunnel project
... the Sites reservoir
–How can people learn more about AquAlliance and its work?
–How can listeners support the work of AquA? www.aqualliance.net
Questions:
–What are the overarching aims of State Water Board in this project?
–How would it work?
–What is the time frame for implementation?
–Who is responsible for implementation? How are individual water users affected?
–Who in Chico would be responsible? How has Chico performed in water reduction in recent years?
--Are the new regs actually enforceable?
–-You wrote to some AquAlliance supporters that on the surface the aims “seem reasonable.” What do you see as the positive aspects of the program?
–You also wrote that you have areas of “grave concern.” What are some of your concerns? (parcel size, food, shade) Would Chico’s previous reductions prior to the new regs be taken into account?
Moving on to other AquAlliance concerns:
–We know that Southern California has what is frequently called “an unquenchable thirst” for California waters. What are some of those threats to “our” water? Tell us about:
... proposed water transfers (explain conjunctive use)
... the Tunnel project
... the Sites reservoir
–How can people learn more about AquAlliance and its work?
–How can listeners support the work of AquA? www.aqualliance.net
Listen to the program. Click below.
A ROAD RUNNING SOUTHWARD
with Dan Chapman
Eco 735 13 2024
with Dan Chapman
Eco 735 13 2024
Tonight we were pleased to be talking with Dan Chapman, author of a fascinating book titled A Road Running Southward. It tells of his observations revisiting sites that John Muir visited in a thousand-mile walk from Louisville, Kentucky, to Cedar Key, Florida, shortly after the civil war. Dan lives in Decatur, Georgia and has been a journalist covering topics around the world, writing for, among others, the Congressional Quarterly, the Charlotte Observer, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He’s the son of a newspaper man and an English teacher, which, as former English teachers, we especially appreciate. This was an especially engaging interview, starting with Dan's overnight stay in a mosquito infested cemetery and ending with a discussion of how we can prevent further degradation of the American southeast. Listen to this dandy interview!
BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOD NETWORK
with Pam Larry
Eco 731 19 February 2024
with Pam Larry
Eco 731 19 February 2024
We've had Pam Larry on the show several times, and her interviews are lively, entertaining, and mostly informative. She is the "chief instigator" of the Butte County Local Food Network, which, during the few years it has been in existence, had made remarkable strides to promote food independence for our region. She spoke to us about their many projects, including the food truck, food boxes, community gardens, and more. Listen to the interview: Click below.
RECYCLING FOR ART
with Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly
Eco 730 12 February 2024
with Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly
Eco 730 12 February 2024
The trash you threw away last week might be a part of the Chico Creative Reuse Mobile art gallery, a local project made with entirely recycled materials. We spoke with members Luann Manss, David "Dragonboy" Sutherland, and Cameron Kelly. Chico Creative Reuse is an organization run by seven artists who use recycled items in their art and who redistribute recycled supplies to the community.“ Chico Creative Reuse redirects materials away from the landfill and back into the community for making art, supporting artists and inspiring environmental stewardship,” according to the mission statement on its website. The project is funded in part by Upstate California Creative Corps and the California Arts Council. The latter gave the organization a grant of $80,000 for the mobile project. Learn more about them at https://www.chicocreativereuse.org/
Listen to this excellent interview: Click Below.
Listen to this excellent interview: Click Below.
BUTTE COUNTY COMPOSTING COALITION
WITH JANEL LUKE
ECO 729 6 FEBRUARY 2024
WITH JANEL LUKE
ECO 729 6 FEBRUARY 2024
On this program we talked talking composting in the wake of Senate Bill 1383 with Janel Luke of the Butte Composting Coalition. We’ll learn about some of the challenges created by new requirements for composting. Janel and her associates have already collected over 50,000 pounds of compost at multiple sites around town and are working to create more sites. She filled us in on efforts statewide to comply with 1383 and explained the ins and outs of productive composting (as opposed to throwing just about everything in the compost bin!).Listen to this excellent and informative interview; click below. (Due to copyright restrictions, we can't include some of the really cute kids' songs we played. Google "kid composting songs" for some pleasurable and informative listening.)
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Eco 728 30 January 2024
5th and 6th graders at chico Country day school
In this program we interviewed over forty -- count 'em -- 5th grade students from Chico Country Day School. Under the direction of teachers Denai Rubio and Michaela Weston, they studied the Universal Declaration, adopted by the UN in 1948. They described projects they created about the 30 articles of the declaration and explained which of those articles they thought most important and most in need of being enacted and reconfirmed in our time. An impressive gathering of young people that gave new life to our closing theme song, "You Are the New Day."
Listen to the recording. Click below.
Listen to the recording. Click below.
Valley's Edge Referendum
Eco 725 January 2, 2024
Eco 725 January 2, 2024
David Welch and Susan Tchudi were guests on this first program in 2024. They discussed the coming referendum on Valley's Edge proposed development. The best place to learn more is smartgrowthchico.com
Listen to this excellent interview: Click below.
Listen to this excellent interview: Click below.