Increase in Wildfires, But Less Acreage Burned
There are 28 percent more wildfires across California this year compared to last year. But there's a silver lining. According to Cal Fire, the fires have burned significantly less acreage. So far, this summer hasn't seen any of the mammoth wildfires of recent years. But parched forests are vulnerable, even at unusually high elevations.
Central Valley Town Turns to Eco-Friendly Homes to Save Water
"Walkable city" and "dense housing" aren't terms you'd usually associate with the Central Valley, where builders have historically taken advantage of plentiful land and resources. As the "resources" part of that equation changes with the state's ongoing drought, the Central Valley town of Reedley aims to build an eco-friendly community some say could use less groundwater than the trees which used to be there.