Green Blog

Sunlight shining through grove of cottonwoods

The Green Blog shares news and information related to forestry/wildfire, sustainability, climate, environmental stewardship and other green topics.

Water in a stream flows over river rocks with forest in background

UCLA, UC ANR establish water supply-wildfire research and policy coordination network

April 10, 2025

UCLA’s Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative (CWRI) is launching a new Urban Water Supply + Fire working group to function as a research and policy coordination network. This effort formalizes a forum where UCLA can come together and coordinate efforts with the University of California Agriculture and…

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Statewide team to assist small farms with SGMA

April 2, 2025

By Ngodoo Atume, Kristen Farrar

California relies on groundwater - water stored in underground aquifers and pumped through wells - for up to 41% of water supply in normal years and up to 60% during times of drought. In 2014, the California legislature signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) with the primary goal…

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A prescribed burn at the UC ANR Hopland Research and Extension Center (2024)

UC researchers study smoke risk to vineyards from prescribed grassland fires

March 27, 2025

In the winegrape vineyards of northern California, fire and its associated smoke pose a unique threat in the form of smoke-taint damage to the fruit. A preliminary study looks at whether prescribed burning as a fire prevention method poses a risk to winegrape crops.

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UC ANR fire expert highlights materials, components and actions that saved homes from LA fires

March 4, 2025

By Yana S Valachovic

Yana Valachovic, a member of UC ANR's Fire Network with a specialty in community resilience and the built environment, visited the sites of the L.A. fires to look for examples where surviving homes withstood the ferocity of the fire and for signs of defensible space and home hardening in action.

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Rob Bennaton grabs a handful of top soil from a mound.

Urban wildfire impacts water, soil and wildlife

January 30, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

As residents start to clean up after the Los Angeles County wildfires, the aftermath will continue to impact water and natural resources in and beyond the fire areas, according to water experts at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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