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"content": "\u003cp>In Japan, sakura — cherry blossoms — have been celebrated for more than a thousand years. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/hanami.htm\">hanami, or flower-viewing celebrations, date back to the 9th century in Japan\u003c/a> and were made popular among the aristocracy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, the arrival of cherry blossoms is celebrated not only in Japan but worldwide, including in U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It marks not just the coming of spring, but also the start of something new,” said Yuki Nishimura, co-chair of the \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/\">Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (NCCBF)\u003c/a> — a volunteer-run annual event in San Francisco’s Japantown taking place on April 12–13 and April 19–20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#cherryblossombayarea\">Where to see cherry blossoms in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#sciencecherryblossom\">How climate change has impacted cherry blossoms\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What to know about the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The NCCBF is the largest festival of its kind on the West Coast, and organizers say that since 1968, it’s served as a way to celebrate the alliance between Japan and the U.S. “This festival is also our way of really celebrating and reclaiming our cultural identity,” Nishimura said.[aside postID='science_1991791,news_11979339,science_1991709' label='More guides from kqed']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/\">those two weekends in April\u003c/a>, there will be cultural performances taking place on the Peace Plaza stage and across Japantown, as well as arts and craft vendors, nonprofit food booths and a children’s area offering games and activities. The Cherry Blossom Festival’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/grand-parade/\">grand parade will close out the festival on Sunday, April 20\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nishimura encourages people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or take an Uber/taxi to the event, as parking spots around Japantown will be limited during those weekends. \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/participate/volunteering-at-the-festival/\">Volunteers for the festival are also welcome\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is all about community. It’s all about bringing people together,” Nishimura said. “Anybody can find a place here, and we welcome everybody to come out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"cherryblossombayarea\">\u003c/a>Other places to see cherry blossoms in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Spring is the best time to admire the blushing pink flowers of cherry blossoms that adorn our streets and parks in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for timing, March and April are the best moments to go looking for cherry blossoms in the region, as they bloom for a limited time during these months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few places you can spot cherry blossoms around the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/japaneseteagardensf/\">Japanese Tea Garden\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/927/GGP---Lindley-Meadow-Picnic-Area\">Lindley Meadow\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/881/Japantown-Peace-Plaza\">Japantown Peace Plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Palace-of-Fine-Arts-423\">Palace of Fine Arts\u003c/a>, Presidio\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/san-francisco-botanical-garden/\">San Francisco Botanical Gardens\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2835/2053\">Japanese Friendship Garden\u003c/a>, San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hakone.com/events\">Hanami at Hakone\u003c/a> on March 20, 2025–April 11, 2025 (Saratoga)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org/\">Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival\u003c/a> on April 26 and 27, 2025 (Cupertino)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://secretsanfrancisco.com/filoli-country-estate-gardens/\">Filoli Estate & Gardens\u003c/a>, Woodside\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.gamblegarden.org/trees-of-gamble-garden/\">Gamble Garden\u003c/a>, Palo Alto\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/parks_community_services/parks_facilities/parks/rancho_san_ramon_community_park\">Rancho San Ramon Community Park\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/03/01/tri-valleys-blooms-breathtaking/\">Bollinger Canyon Road\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://ccclib.org/locations/60/\">Dougherty Station Library Parking Lot\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://secretsanfrancisco.com/berkeley-guide/\">UC Berkeley campus west entrance\u003c/a>, Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.haywardrec.org/facilities/facility/details/japanese-gardens-100\">Hayward Japanese Gardens\u003c/a>, Hayward\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://maps.app.goo.gl/Juxc9i1ErhNGkBBo8\">Piedmont Park\u003c/a>, Piedmont\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks/central-park\">Central Park\u003c/a>, Fremont\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://patch.com/california/petaluma/cherry-blossoms-bloom-srjc-petaluma-photos-week\">Santa Rosa Junior College\u003c/a>, Petaluma\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/goatlockerguns/25909840854/in/photostream/\">Fairfield\u003c/a>, Solano County\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sciencecherryblossom\">\u003c/a>How climate change has impacted cherry blossoms\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve noticed cherry blossoms beginning to bloom earlier than usual, you’re not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Springtime temperature plays a big role in how early trees bloom and “is consistent with the increased heat of climate change,” Patrick Gonzalez, climate change scientist and forest ecologist at UC Berkeley, told KQED in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cherry trees blossom for a very short period, making the peak flowering stage a critical data point in understanding the physiological stage of the tree. It’s also the most well-documented data in phenology: The timing of life events in plants and animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies have shown that cherry blossoms in both Washington, D.C. and Kyoto, Japan, have been blooming earlier than in previous years due to climate change. With increased global temperatures, “cherry trees blooming in the center of Washington, D.C. could advance by up to a month by 2100,” Gonzalez said, referring to \u003ca href=\"https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0027439\">a study from 2011\u003c/a>. And more than a thousand years of past data indicate that this will also be the case with \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/04/04/japans-cherry-blossoms-signal-warmest-climate-in-over-1000-years/\">peak blooms in Japan\u003c/a>, Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why might earlier blooms become an issue? Gonzalez said that rising global temperatures could inadvertently cause a “phenology mismatch” between when a tree blooms and when pollinators like bees and butterflies mature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many of the cherry trees we see in the Bay Area are more ornamental and, therefore, may not be a cause of concern with earlier blooms, “the phenology mismatch is important ecologically for food crops, especially like almonds and cherries that we eat here [in California],” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Janelle Hessig and Adrienne Lee contributed to this story, which was originally published on March 22, 2024.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/\">those two weekends in April\u003c/a>, there will be cultural performances taking place on the Peace Plaza stage and across Japantown, as well as arts and craft vendors, nonprofit food booths and a children’s area offering games and activities. The Cherry Blossom Festival’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/grand-parade/\">grand parade will close out the festival on Sunday, April 20\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nishimura encourages people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or take an Uber/taxi to the event, as parking spots around Japantown will be limited during those weekends. \u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/participate/volunteering-at-the-festival/\">Volunteers for the festival are also welcome\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is all about community. It’s all about bringing people together,” Nishimura said. “Anybody can find a place here, and we welcome everybody to come out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"cherryblossombayarea\">\u003c/a>Other places to see cherry blossoms in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Spring is the best time to admire the blushing pink flowers of cherry blossoms that adorn our streets and parks in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for timing, March and April are the best moments to go looking for cherry blossoms in the region, as they bloom for a limited time during these months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are a few places you can spot cherry blossoms around the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/japaneseteagardensf/\">Japanese Tea Garden\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/927/GGP---Lindley-Meadow-Picnic-Area\">Lindley Meadow\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/881/Japantown-Peace-Plaza\">Japantown Peace Plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Palace-of-Fine-Arts-423\">Palace of Fine Arts\u003c/a>, Presidio\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/san-francisco-botanical-garden/\">San Francisco Botanical Gardens\u003c/a>, Golden Gate Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2835/2053\">Japanese Friendship Garden\u003c/a>, San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hakone.com/events\">Hanami at Hakone\u003c/a> on March 20, 2025–April 11, 2025 (Saratoga)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org/\">Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival\u003c/a> on April 26 and 27, 2025 (Cupertino)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://secretsanfrancisco.com/filoli-country-estate-gardens/\">Filoli Estate & Gardens\u003c/a>, Woodside\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.gamblegarden.org/trees-of-gamble-garden/\">Gamble Garden\u003c/a>, Palo Alto\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/parks_community_services/parks_facilities/parks/rancho_san_ramon_community_park\">Rancho San Ramon Community Park\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/03/01/tri-valleys-blooms-breathtaking/\">Bollinger Canyon Road\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://ccclib.org/locations/60/\">Dougherty Station Library Parking Lot\u003c/a>, San Ramon\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://secretsanfrancisco.com/berkeley-guide/\">UC Berkeley campus west entrance\u003c/a>, Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.haywardrec.org/facilities/facility/details/japanese-gardens-100\">Hayward Japanese Gardens\u003c/a>, Hayward\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://maps.app.goo.gl/Juxc9i1ErhNGkBBo8\">Piedmont Park\u003c/a>, Piedmont\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks/central-park\">Central Park\u003c/a>, Fremont\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://patch.com/california/petaluma/cherry-blossoms-bloom-srjc-petaluma-photos-week\">Santa Rosa Junior College\u003c/a>, Petaluma\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/goatlockerguns/25909840854/in/photostream/\">Fairfield\u003c/a>, Solano County\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sciencecherryblossom\">\u003c/a>How climate change has impacted cherry blossoms\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve noticed cherry blossoms beginning to bloom earlier than usual, you’re not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Springtime temperature plays a big role in how early trees bloom and “is consistent with the increased heat of climate change,” Patrick Gonzalez, climate change scientist and forest ecologist at UC Berkeley, told KQED in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cherry trees blossom for a very short period, making the peak flowering stage a critical data point in understanding the physiological stage of the tree. It’s also the most well-documented data in phenology: The timing of life events in plants and animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies have shown that cherry blossoms in both Washington, D.C. and Kyoto, Japan, have been blooming earlier than in previous years due to climate change. With increased global temperatures, “cherry trees blooming in the center of Washington, D.C. could advance by up to a month by 2100,” Gonzalez said, referring to \u003ca href=\"https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0027439\">a study from 2011\u003c/a>. And more than a thousand years of past data indicate that this will also be the case with \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/04/04/japans-cherry-blossoms-signal-warmest-climate-in-over-1000-years/\">peak blooms in Japan\u003c/a>, Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why might earlier blooms become an issue? Gonzalez said that rising global temperatures could inadvertently cause a “phenology mismatch” between when a tree blooms and when pollinators like bees and butterflies mature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many of the cherry trees we see in the Bay Area are more ornamental and, therefore, may not be a cause of concern with earlier blooms, “the phenology mismatch is important ecologically for food crops, especially like almonds and cherries that we eat here [in California],” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Janelle Hessig and Adrienne Lee contributed to this story, which was originally published on March 22, 2024.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Do I Need a Measles Booster? And How Can I Check I'm Actually Vaccinated?",
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"headTitle": "Do I Need a Measles Booster? And How Can I Check I’m Actually Vaccinated? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>On Friday, health officials in Alameda and Santa Clara counties alerted the public to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042174/bay-area-measles-case-spurs-warnings-of-possible-exposures-at-3-locations\">a confirmed case of measles\u003c/a>, saying the resident tested positive after returning from international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a very highly vaccinated population, which is why we expect to contain the spread of this disease if everyone pays attention to their own vaccination status, stays up to date with their vaccinations and seeks the care we recommend today,” Dr. Sarah Rudman, the acting public health officer and director at Santa Clara County’s Department of Public Health, said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This makes at least \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">12 confirmed cases\u003c/a> in California in 2025. The United States has now seen\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\"> more measles cases in the first five months\u003c/a> of this year than in all of 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#do-i-need-measles-booster\">Jump straight to: Who needs a measles booster?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through direct contact with infectious droplets and through the air when a person with measles breathes, coughs or sneezes. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the most recent available data\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Friday, 67% of the 1,088 cases in the U.S. are in children and young people age 19 and younger; 96% of total cases involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">There were 285 total measles cases nationwide in 2024 and only 59 in 2023. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yearly measles cases in the United States since 2000\n\" aria-label=\"Column Chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-E25vZ\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E25vZ/1/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" data-external=\"1\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The spike comes after measles was \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html#cdc_data_surveillance_section_6-history-of-measles-cases\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">officially eliminated\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the U.S. in 2000, which the CDC defines as new cases stemming only from international travel when someone is infected abroad and then reenters the U.S. In the 1990s, cases were as \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">high as 27,808\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But what if you were vaccinated against measles as a child — or think you were? Do you need a booster dose? Keep reading for what to know about the measles vaccine and which groups should speak to their health care provider about finding another shot.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is the state of measles in California right now?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On March 20, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-20/tuolumne-county-confirms-two-measles-cases-warns-of-exposure-at-high-school-and-emergency-room\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">two cases were reported\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Tuolumne County, where the public health department has warned of\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/updates/measles-exposure-possible-at-tuolumne-county-high-school#:~:text=Two%20measles%20cases%20have%20been,School%20on%20March%2010%2D11\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> potential exposures at locations including a high school\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The California Department of Public Health said the cases involved an adult and a child under 18 who lived together and who had traveled internationally. CDPH defines an “outbreak” as three or more related cases.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, but it is preventable with the MMR vaccine, San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said in a statement. “If children in your family are not fully vaccinated, or if you did not have measles as a child, please get the vaccine for the best protection.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The last major measles surge in California was \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">in 2019\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, when 41 cases were associated with six separate outbreaks, bringing the state’s yearly total to 73. The largest outbreak that year resulted in 21 individual measles cases. Before that, an outbreak associated with Disneyland visits resulted in at least 131 Californians being infected with measles between Dec. 2014 and April 2015.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is the measles vaccine, and when would I have gotten it?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Measles is preventable with the combined Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, and vaccination against measles has been part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html\">routine childhood immunization\u003c/a> for decades. There’s also a combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella, or MMRV, vaccine, but it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">only licensed\u003c/a> for use in children under 12 years of age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that everyone over 12 months of age be vaccinated against measles, with children receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">two doses of the MMR vaccine \u003c/a>starting at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is recommended at 4-6 years of age. This vaccine provides lifetime protection against measles, so if you got your MMR vaccine as a child, you’re considered up-to-date on your vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"do-i-need-measles-booster\">\u003c/a>If I’m up-to-date on my measles vaccines, do I need a measles booster?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No, the CDC said. If you got two doses of measles vaccine as a child according to the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">vaccination schedule\u003c/a>, the CDC considers you “protected for life” and that you “do not ever need a booster dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are, however, two groups of older adults who received childhood measles vaccinations but who should still talk to their health care provider about possibly getting another vaccination:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People born between 1957 and 1969\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are in this age group, which would make you between 56 and 68 years old today, the Bay Area health officers say it’s likely you only received one dose of the MMR vaccine and “should consider getting a second dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if you were born before 1957? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, everyone born before this year is presumed to have\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/hcp/recommendations.html#immunity\"> immunity from measles \u003c/a>from a previous infection, given how widespread the virus was during that period — although \u003ca href=\"https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/should-you-get-a-measles-vaccine-booster\">people \u003c/a>in this age group who work in health care and who don’t have any written evidence of this immunity should get the MMR vaccine anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People who received the ‘killed’ measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The “killed,” or inactivated, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_1-protection-against-measles\">measles vaccine \u003c/a>was an earlier formulation of the measles vaccine that was only used for this brief period in the 1960s, for fewer than one million people, the CDC said. Because it was found \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lBIT7pOtFXC7RGnsk-l8cp_Wdk4O8Olc_a8u6X3WpQ4/edit?tab=t.0\">to be ineffective\u003c/a> and replaced with the current live vaccine, people who know they received this particular version of the vaccine “should talk to their health care provider about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_1-protection-against-measles\"> getting revaccinated\u003c/a>” with the MMR vaccine, according to the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is no harm in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html\">getting another dose \u003c/a>of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella),” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996383\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1949px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996383\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1949\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed.jpg 1949w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-800x547.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1020x698.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-768x525.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1920x1313.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1949px) 100vw, 1949px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The CDC recommends that everyone over 12 months of age be vaccinated against measles, with children receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine starting at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is recommended at 4-6 years of age. \u003ccite>(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>I don’t know if I’m vaccinated against measles. How can I check?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no national organization that maintains Americans’\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\"> vaccination records\u003c/a>. Ways that the CDC suggests to track down your own records include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Ask your parents or caregivers for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/records/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/records/keeping-track.html\">records \u003c/a>of your childhood immunizations (or look in saved documents from your childhood, like baby books).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Consult a state immunization registry like the California Department of Public Health’s \u003ca href=\"https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/\">Digital Vaccine Record \u003c/a>portal.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Ask your doctor or public health clinic, but remember that these records may only be stored for a limited time.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\"> has a guide \u003c/a>to tracking down your vaccination records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Bay Area coalition of public health officers, “your medical provider can order a simple blood test to check whether or not you are immune” to measles, either from vaccination or from a childhood infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason to check your vaccination status if you’re unsure: Possessing documentation of your vaccination status “can help you avoid being quarantined if you are exposed,” the health officers said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you can’t find any sign that you or your family have received a measles vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Teenagers and adults with no evidence of immunity should be vaccinated right away,” they added — something the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\">CDC echoed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>If I’m vaccinated, am I still at risk of getting measles?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Five years of living with COVID-19 have taught us that being vaccinated against a virus doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get infected with that virus. The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, does somewhat reduce your chances of being infected — although the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/5-things-you-should-know.html\"> CDC said \u003c/a>that “protection against infection tends to be modest and sometimes short-lived” — but it also means you’re much less likely to get severely ill if you do get infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the measles vaccine is incredibly effective at protecting against infections, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\"> CDC said\u003c/a>, and two doses of measles vaccine are “about 97% effective” at preventing measles if you’re exposed. (One dose is “about 93% effective.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for why “about three out of 100” people vaccinated against measles will still get measles after exposure — also known as breakthrough cases — \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">the CDC said \u003c/a>that experts “aren’t sure why” and that this could be due to the responsiveness of an individual’s immune system to the vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the good news is, fully vaccinated people who get measles seem more likely to have a milder illness,” the CDC said — and fully vaccinated people “seem also less likely to spread the disease to other people.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What are the symptoms of measles?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2121px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024.jpg 2121w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Measles symptoms can occur between 1 and 3 weeks after exposure and could include fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye, followed a few days later by a rash. \u003ccite>(Natalya Maisheva/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and pink eye, followed a few days later by a rash. These symptoms can emerge between\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html\"> seven and 21 days \u003c/a>after exposure. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who become infected with measles — a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with infectious droplets — will \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html\">require hospitalization\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some people, the disease can be fatal. In others, the impacts of an infection can linger — or appear —\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5328765/measles-outbreak-health-risk\"> years afterward.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the U.S. measles vaccination program started in 1963, an estimated \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_4-u-s-measles-cases-statistics\">3 to 4 million people \u003c/a>nationwide were infected with measles annually, the CDC said — with only 500,000 being reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Among reported cases, 400 to 500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 developed encephalitis (brain swelling) from measles,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can I find a measles vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Fmmr%2Fpublic%2Findex.html\"> CDC’s recommendation of\u003c/a> these shots means that your insurer should cover the costs. You can find appointments for an MMR vaccine at:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Your regular health care provider.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A local pharmacy like \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/services/mmr-measles-mumps-rubella\">CVS \u003c/a>or \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/scheduler/measles-mumps-rubella-mmr-vaccine_38.jsp\">Walgreens.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/en/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>, the federal government’s vaccine locator.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/vaccinelocator.html\">myturn.ca.gov\u003c/a>, the state’s vaccine locator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>For those without insurance: Uninsured children ages 18 and under can get free DTaP vaccines — and other no-cost immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>. People without insurance can get the MMR vaccine at a lower cost — or even free\u003ca href=\"https://eziz.org/assets/docs/IMM-1247.pdf\"> if they qualify \u003c/a>for the Vaccines for Adults Program — from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>San Francisco Department of Public Health’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information/aitc-services-and-prices\">AITC clinic.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Contra Costa Public Health \u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Alameda County \u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">KQED’s Samantha Kennedy and Nisa Khan contributed to this report. \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "With growing measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, who might need an MMR booster? And if you're unsure, how can you find your measles vaccination records?",
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"title": "Do I Need a Measles Booster? And How Can I Check I'm Actually Vaccinated? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Friday, health officials in Alameda and Santa Clara counties alerted the public to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042174/bay-area-measles-case-spurs-warnings-of-possible-exposures-at-3-locations\">a confirmed case of measles\u003c/a>, saying the resident tested positive after returning from international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a very highly vaccinated population, which is why we expect to contain the spread of this disease if everyone pays attention to their own vaccination status, stays up to date with their vaccinations and seeks the care we recommend today,” Dr. Sarah Rudman, the acting public health officer and director at Santa Clara County’s Department of Public Health, said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This makes at least \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">12 confirmed cases\u003c/a> in California in 2025. The United States has now seen\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\"> more measles cases in the first five months\u003c/a> of this year than in all of 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#do-i-need-measles-booster\">Jump straight to: Who needs a measles booster?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through direct contact with infectious droplets and through the air when a person with measles breathes, coughs or sneezes. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the most recent available data\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Friday, 67% of the 1,088 cases in the U.S. are in children and young people age 19 and younger; 96% of total cases involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">There were 285 total measles cases nationwide in 2024 and only 59 in 2023. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yearly measles cases in the United States since 2000\n\" aria-label=\"Column Chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-E25vZ\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E25vZ/1/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" data-external=\"1\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The spike comes after measles was \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html#cdc_data_surveillance_section_6-history-of-measles-cases\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">officially eliminated\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the U.S. in 2000, which the CDC defines as new cases stemming only from international travel when someone is infected abroad and then reenters the U.S. In the 1990s, cases were as \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">high as 27,808\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But what if you were vaccinated against measles as a child — or think you were? Do you need a booster dose? Keep reading for what to know about the measles vaccine and which groups should speak to their health care provider about finding another shot.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is the state of measles in California right now?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On March 20, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-20/tuolumne-county-confirms-two-measles-cases-warns-of-exposure-at-high-school-and-emergency-room\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">two cases were reported\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Tuolumne County, where the public health department has warned of\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/updates/measles-exposure-possible-at-tuolumne-county-high-school#:~:text=Two%20measles%20cases%20have%20been,School%20on%20March%2010%2D11\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> potential exposures at locations including a high school\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The California Department of Public Health said the cases involved an adult and a child under 18 who lived together and who had traveled internationally. CDPH defines an “outbreak” as three or more related cases.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, but it is preventable with the MMR vaccine, San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said in a statement. “If children in your family are not fully vaccinated, or if you did not have measles as a child, please get the vaccine for the best protection.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The last major measles surge in California was \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">in 2019\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, when 41 cases were associated with six separate outbreaks, bringing the state’s yearly total to 73. The largest outbreak that year resulted in 21 individual measles cases. Before that, an outbreak associated with Disneyland visits resulted in at least 131 Californians being infected with measles between Dec. 2014 and April 2015.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What is the measles vaccine, and when would I have gotten it?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Measles is preventable with the combined Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, and vaccination against measles has been part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html\">routine childhood immunization\u003c/a> for decades. There’s also a combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella, or MMRV, vaccine, but it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">only licensed\u003c/a> for use in children under 12 years of age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that everyone over 12 months of age be vaccinated against measles, with children receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">two doses of the MMR vaccine \u003c/a>starting at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is recommended at 4-6 years of age. This vaccine provides lifetime protection against measles, so if you got your MMR vaccine as a child, you’re considered up-to-date on your vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"do-i-need-measles-booster\">\u003c/a>If I’m up-to-date on my measles vaccines, do I need a measles booster?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No, the CDC said. If you got two doses of measles vaccine as a child according to the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">vaccination schedule\u003c/a>, the CDC considers you “protected for life” and that you “do not ever need a booster dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are, however, two groups of older adults who received childhood measles vaccinations but who should still talk to their health care provider about possibly getting another vaccination:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People born between 1957 and 1969\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are in this age group, which would make you between 56 and 68 years old today, the Bay Area health officers say it’s likely you only received one dose of the MMR vaccine and “should consider getting a second dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if you were born before 1957? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, everyone born before this year is presumed to have\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/hcp/recommendations.html#immunity\"> immunity from measles \u003c/a>from a previous infection, given how widespread the virus was during that period — although \u003ca href=\"https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/should-you-get-a-measles-vaccine-booster\">people \u003c/a>in this age group who work in health care and who don’t have any written evidence of this immunity should get the MMR vaccine anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People who received the ‘killed’ measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The “killed,” or inactivated, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_1-protection-against-measles\">measles vaccine \u003c/a>was an earlier formulation of the measles vaccine that was only used for this brief period in the 1960s, for fewer than one million people, the CDC said. Because it was found \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lBIT7pOtFXC7RGnsk-l8cp_Wdk4O8Olc_a8u6X3WpQ4/edit?tab=t.0\">to be ineffective\u003c/a> and replaced with the current live vaccine, people who know they received this particular version of the vaccine “should talk to their health care provider about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_1-protection-against-measles\"> getting revaccinated\u003c/a>” with the MMR vaccine, according to the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is no harm in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html\">getting another dose \u003c/a>of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella),” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996383\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1949px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996383\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1949\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed.jpg 1949w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-800x547.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1020x698.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-768x525.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/491404051_qed-1920x1313.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1949px) 100vw, 1949px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The CDC recommends that everyone over 12 months of age be vaccinated against measles, with children receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine starting at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is recommended at 4-6 years of age. \u003ccite>(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>I don’t know if I’m vaccinated against measles. How can I check?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no national organization that maintains Americans’\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\"> vaccination records\u003c/a>. Ways that the CDC suggests to track down your own records include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Ask your parents or caregivers for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/records/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/records/keeping-track.html\">records \u003c/a>of your childhood immunizations (or look in saved documents from your childhood, like baby books).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Consult a state immunization registry like the California Department of Public Health’s \u003ca href=\"https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/\">Digital Vaccine Record \u003c/a>portal.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Ask your doctor or public health clinic, but remember that these records may only be stored for a limited time.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\"> has a guide \u003c/a>to tracking down your vaccination records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Bay Area coalition of public health officers, “your medical provider can order a simple blood test to check whether or not you are immune” to measles, either from vaccination or from a childhood infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason to check your vaccination status if you’re unsure: Possessing documentation of your vaccination status “can help you avoid being quarantined if you are exposed,” the health officers said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you can’t find any sign that you or your family have received a measles vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Teenagers and adults with no evidence of immunity should be vaccinated right away,” they added — something the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/keeping-vaccine-records-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/vaccination-records.html\">CDC echoed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>If I’m vaccinated, am I still at risk of getting measles?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Five years of living with COVID-19 have taught us that being vaccinated against a virus doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get infected with that virus. The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, does somewhat reduce your chances of being infected — although the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/5-things-you-should-know.html\"> CDC said \u003c/a>that “protection against infection tends to be modest and sometimes short-lived” — but it also means you’re much less likely to get severely ill if you do get infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the measles vaccine is incredibly effective at protecting against infections, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\"> CDC said\u003c/a>, and two doses of measles vaccine are “about 97% effective” at preventing measles if you’re exposed. (One dose is “about 93% effective.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for why “about three out of 100” people vaccinated against measles will still get measles after exposure — also known as breakthrough cases — \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">the CDC said \u003c/a>that experts “aren’t sure why” and that this could be due to the responsiveness of an individual’s immune system to the vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the good news is, fully vaccinated people who get measles seem more likely to have a milder illness,” the CDC said — and fully vaccinated people “seem also less likely to spread the disease to other people.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What are the symptoms of measles?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2121px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024.jpg 2121w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/GettyImages-2152300024-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Measles symptoms can occur between 1 and 3 weeks after exposure and could include fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye, followed a few days later by a rash. \u003ccite>(Natalya Maisheva/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and pink eye, followed a few days later by a rash. These symptoms can emerge between\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html\"> seven and 21 days \u003c/a>after exposure. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who become infected with measles — a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with infectious droplets — will \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html\">require hospitalization\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some people, the disease can be fatal. In others, the impacts of an infection can linger — or appear —\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5328765/measles-outbreak-health-risk\"> years afterward.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the U.S. measles vaccination program started in 1963, an estimated \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html#cdc_generic_section_4-u-s-measles-cases-statistics\">3 to 4 million people \u003c/a>nationwide were infected with measles annually, the CDC said — with only 500,000 being reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Among reported cases, 400 to 500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 developed encephalitis (brain swelling) from measles,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can I find a measles vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Fmmr%2Fpublic%2Findex.html\"> CDC’s recommendation of\u003c/a> these shots means that your insurer should cover the costs. You can find appointments for an MMR vaccine at:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Your regular health care provider.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A local pharmacy like \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/services/mmr-measles-mumps-rubella\">CVS \u003c/a>or \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/scheduler/measles-mumps-rubella-mmr-vaccine_38.jsp\">Walgreens.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/en/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>, the federal government’s vaccine locator.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/vaccinelocator.html\">myturn.ca.gov\u003c/a>, the state’s vaccine locator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>For those without insurance: Uninsured children ages 18 and under can get free DTaP vaccines — and other no-cost immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>. People without insurance can get the MMR vaccine at a lower cost — or even free\u003ca href=\"https://eziz.org/assets/docs/IMM-1247.pdf\"> if they qualify \u003c/a>for the Vaccines for Adults Program — from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>San Francisco Department of Public Health’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information/aitc-services-and-prices\">AITC clinic.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Contra Costa Public Health \u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Alameda County \u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">KQED’s Samantha Kennedy and Nisa Khan contributed to this report. \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "daffodils-signal-resilience-in-santa-cruz-mountains-almost-5-years-after-czu-fires",
"title": "Daffodils Signal Resilience in Santa Cruz Mountains, Almost 5 Years After CZU Fires",
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"headTitle": "Daffodils Signal Resilience in Santa Cruz Mountains, Almost 5 Years After CZU Fires | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Today, Michael Geluardi still chokes up a little bit when he talks about why sunshine-yellow daffodils bloom in his garden in Bonny Doon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the CZU Lightning Complex fires \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11835949/most-beautiful-place-on-earth-the-citizen-firefighters-who-stayed-behind-to-save-their-santa-cruz-mountain-paradise\">devastated this\u003c/a> Santa Cruz Mountain community in 2020, residents planted thousands of the cheerful flowers to express their resilience and hope for recovery. Now, every March, the daffodils emerge sprinkled across gardens and framed in driveways amid the rural area’s towering redwoods, still charred black in spots, and vacant lots. The \u003ca href=\"http://www.bdcsf.org/\">Bonny Doon Community School Foundation\u003c/a> spearheaded this project after the fires, selling the bulbs to benefit the local school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The ravages of the fire and of COVID were all around us, and I had this idea that there could be daffodils,” Geluardi said, who organized the effort during his time as both a school and foundation board member. “The vision was that we would plant them in the winter, after the fires, and they would come up in the spring as a symbol of renewal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daffodils bloom at the entrance of Bonny Doon Elementary School in Santa Cruz on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1974648/last-years-santa-cruz-lightning-fires-still-causing-trouble\">CZU fires ignited in August of 2020 and burned\u003c/a> for more than 40 days, scorching north of 85,000 acres across San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, killing one person and destroying about \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/czu-lightning-complex-including-warnella-fire\">1,500 structures\u003c/a>. In Bonny Doon, many homes survived, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13885467/after-wildfire-a-family-of-artists-faces-the-cultural-losses-of-climate-change\">some people\u003c/a> had to embark on the painful, costly process of rebuilding or they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11873396/i-cant-abandon-this-community-months-after-czu-fires-survivors-struggle-to-rebuild\">relocated permanently\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Geluardi, who has lived in Bonny Doon for 15 years, organized a shipment of discounted flowers from a \u003ca href=\"https://www.terraceiafarms.com/product/00/2DFB51/Daffodil-Yellow-Trumpet-Mix-Bulk-Landscaping\">generous distributor\u003c/a> on the East Coast. In the winter between 2020 and 2021, residents bought more than 60,000 yellow trumpet daffodil bulbs, showing their support for the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District students trying to learn amid the pandemic. The program continued the following year, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996297\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996297\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mural, featuring daffodils and the school’s mascot, a raccoon, made by the graduating class of 2021, at Bonny Doon Elementary School in Santa Cruz on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Today, daffodils surround the entry sign at the local school. Students also splashed a painted daffodil mural across one of the school buildings in commemoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bonny Doon endeavor echoes a much larger, ongoing effort from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ny4p.org/the-daffodil-project#5856\">New Yorkers for Parks’ Daffodil Project,\u003c/a> which began distributing free daffodils in 2002 as a living memorial after 9/11. It now also honors those who died from COVID-19.[aside postID=news_11835949 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/IMG_20200826_115025707-1020x765.jpg']Shannon Robbins, a landscape designer who has lived in Bonny Doon for two decades, said her house was the only one in her immediate, ridge-top neighborhood still standing after the fires. She planted daffodils in her garden and helped her neighbors do the same.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think because the fire knocked us down at our knees, most people just needed something for hope,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although there was widespread support for the uplifting project, some members of the community would have preferred a native California species over the non-native daffodils.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Karen Holl, an ecologist from nearby University of California Santa Cruz, weighed in that a species like California poppies would have been her first choice, though daffodils are not listed on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cal-ipc.org/\">California Invasive Plant Council\u003c/a>’s problem invasives list. “Daffodils should be confined to gardens,” Holl said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996299\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996299\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daffodils bloom at the entrance of Bonny Doon Elementary School on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Robbins understood the ecological concern, but she said she had not seen the daffodils spreading. She actually planned to remind her neighbors to give them some fertilizer so they don’t disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Now, when you drive by, you see these little, tiny random clusters of daffodils, and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah,’” Robbins said. “It’s cheery.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Today, Michael Geluardi still chokes up a little bit when he talks about why sunshine-yellow daffodils bloom in his garden in Bonny Doon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the CZU Lightning Complex fires \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11835949/most-beautiful-place-on-earth-the-citizen-firefighters-who-stayed-behind-to-save-their-santa-cruz-mountain-paradise\">devastated this\u003c/a> Santa Cruz Mountain community in 2020, residents planted thousands of the cheerful flowers to express their resilience and hope for recovery. Now, every March, the daffodils emerge sprinkled across gardens and framed in driveways amid the rural area’s towering redwoods, still charred black in spots, and vacant lots. The \u003ca href=\"http://www.bdcsf.org/\">Bonny Doon Community School Foundation\u003c/a> spearheaded this project after the fires, selling the bulbs to benefit the local school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The ravages of the fire and of COVID were all around us, and I had this idea that there could be daffodils,” Geluardi said, who organized the effort during his time as both a school and foundation board member. “The vision was that we would plant them in the winter, after the fires, and they would come up in the spring as a symbol of renewal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-9-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daffodils bloom at the entrance of Bonny Doon Elementary School in Santa Cruz on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1974648/last-years-santa-cruz-lightning-fires-still-causing-trouble\">CZU fires ignited in August of 2020 and burned\u003c/a> for more than 40 days, scorching north of 85,000 acres across San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, killing one person and destroying about \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/czu-lightning-complex-including-warnella-fire\">1,500 structures\u003c/a>. In Bonny Doon, many homes survived, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13885467/after-wildfire-a-family-of-artists-faces-the-cultural-losses-of-climate-change\">some people\u003c/a> had to embark on the painful, costly process of rebuilding or they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11873396/i-cant-abandon-this-community-months-after-czu-fires-survivors-struggle-to-rebuild\">relocated permanently\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Geluardi, who has lived in Bonny Doon for 15 years, organized a shipment of discounted flowers from a \u003ca href=\"https://www.terraceiafarms.com/product/00/2DFB51/Daffodil-Yellow-Trumpet-Mix-Bulk-Landscaping\">generous distributor\u003c/a> on the East Coast. In the winter between 2020 and 2021, residents bought more than 60,000 yellow trumpet daffodil bulbs, showing their support for the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District students trying to learn amid the pandemic. The program continued the following year, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996297\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996297\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-3-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mural, featuring daffodils and the school’s mascot, a raccoon, made by the graduating class of 2021, at Bonny Doon Elementary School in Santa Cruz on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Today, daffodils surround the entry sign at the local school. Students also splashed a painted daffodil mural across one of the school buildings in commemoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bonny Doon endeavor echoes a much larger, ongoing effort from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ny4p.org/the-daffodil-project#5856\">New Yorkers for Parks’ Daffodil Project,\u003c/a> which began distributing free daffodils in 2002 as a living memorial after 9/11. It now also honors those who died from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Shannon Robbins, a landscape designer who has lived in Bonny Doon for two decades, said her house was the only one in her immediate, ridge-top neighborhood still standing after the fires. She planted daffodils in her garden and helped her neighbors do the same.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think because the fire knocked us down at our knees, most people just needed something for hope,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although there was widespread support for the uplifting project, some members of the community would have preferred a native California species over the non-native daffodils.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Karen Holl, an ecologist from nearby University of California Santa Cruz, weighed in that a species like California poppies would have been her first choice, though daffodils are not listed on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cal-ipc.org/\">California Invasive Plant Council\u003c/a>’s problem invasives list. “Daffodils should be confined to gardens,” Holl said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996299\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996299\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250312_BONNYDOON_GC-13-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daffodils bloom at the entrance of Bonny Doon Elementary School on March 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Robbins understood the ecological concern, but she said she had not seen the daffodils spreading. She actually planned to remind her neighbors to give them some fertilizer so they don’t disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Now, when you drive by, you see these little, tiny random clusters of daffodils, and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah,’” Robbins said. “It’s cheery.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "lessons-from-elsewhere-managing-san-franciscos-stormwater-sewage-mess",
"title": "Lessons From Elsewhere: Managing San Francisco's Stormwater and Sewage Mess",
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"headTitle": "Lessons From Elsewhere: Managing San Francisco’s Stormwater and Sewage Mess | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco shares one nasty thing in common with New York, Chicago and Milwaukee. When big storms soak each city, \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/science/1996145/sf-dumps-millions-of-gallons-of-sewage-during-big-storms-surfers-say-that-needs-to-stop\">millions of gallons of stormwater and raw sewage pour\u003c/a> into nearby waterways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a legacy of how the cities were built over a century ago. Sewage and stormwater flow through the same pipes, and during large storms, the combined systems overflow, spilling into rivers, lakes and oceans. The federal government has mandated that the four cities clean up the water pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has spent billions of dollars to improve its system, but it has a long way to go, especially with the growing intensity of storms due to human-caused climate change. Water experts suggest the city can learn from the successes of other cities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New York has invested in green infrastructure, turning its concrete jungle into a sponge to soak up water. Chicago and Milwaukee both dug massive tunnels deep in the earth to capture water flows while also leading the way with adaptation strategies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has upgraded parts of the combined sewer and stormwater system, installed collection boxes across the city and created hundreds of small green infrastructure projects, all to capture hundreds of millions of gallons of water annually, reducing overflows by 80% since the 1970s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996294\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996294\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A greener, safer corridor: Trees line the center median of Cesar Chavez Street in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2025, as part of a streetscape project that transformed the area with widened sidewalks, stormwater planters and redesigned intersections to enhance pedestrian safety and urban greenery. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most of the year, the system works well, treating all of the city’s wastewater with little issue. However, during the rainy season, the city discharges nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/3-24-cv-02594-city-county-san-francisco-complaint-2024-05-01.pdf\">2 billion gallons of sewage water\u003c/a> into the ocean and San Francisco Bay, according to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1996145/sf-dumps-millions-of-gallons-of-sewage-during-big-storms-surfers-say-that-needs-to-stop\">Surfers and environmentalists\u003c/a> are pressing the city to reduce pollution further and say they avoid the ocean on rainy days because swimming in the murky water can lead to ear and skin infections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last winter, sewers spilled into the bay 15 times, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. In an email to KQED, city officials wrote that all its fixes “alone are not a solution for reducing the impact of the increasingly intense storms that climate change brings.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996293\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996293 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Revitalizing a historic alley: Trees line Spofford Alley in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Feb. 28, 2025, as part of the Chinatown Spofford Living Alley project. The project includes flow-through planters that manage stormwater, pedestrian lighting for safety and bench seating for visitors to rest and take in the area. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The dispute over water pollution in San Francisco reached the Supreme Court after the EPA alleged the city repeatedly violated the Clean Water Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco sued in response, claiming the regulations were too vague. The conservative-leaning court \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029553/supreme-court-sides-with-san-francisco-against-epa-sewage-lawsuit\">largely sided with the city\u003c/a> in an opinion released in early March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s no simple or cheap solution for San Francisco’s sewage woes, and no city has implemented a perfect fix, but Chicago, Milwaukee and New York’s efforts to soak up the rain provide a potential model for how to tackle the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chicago — ‘Waterways are cleaner than ever’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chicago has a long history of water quality issues. In the late 1800s, the Chicago River was essentially the city’s latrine and flowed directly into Lake Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We soon started to see massive outbreaks of typhoid and other waterborne diseases,” said Karl Rockne, an environmental engineering professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. “We recognized that we had to do something here in Chicago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996291\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996291\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1258\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-800x503.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1020x642.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-768x483.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1536x966.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1920x1208.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grit and progress: Laborers pause for a photograph on Sept. 22, 1904, during construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal extension. Covered in drilling mud, they stand beside compressed air rock drills used to bore holes for explosives. Built from 1903 to 1907, the four-mile extension connected Lockport to Joliet, enabling full navigation from Lake Michigan to the Des Plaines River and replacing the aging I&M Canal. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To prevent sewage from reaching Lake Michigan, the city \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kSsrrKMwPzQ&feature=youtu.be\">reversed the river’s flow\u003c/a> on \u003ca href=\"https://mwrd.org/news/chicago-rivers-reversal-1900-was-engineering-triumph-transformed-our-city-chicago-sun-times\">Jan. 2, 1900\u003c/a>. The city later built an elaborate maze of sewers and treatment plants and by 1930, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.chipublib.org/fa-chicago-sewers-collection/#:~:text=Later%2C%20the%20establishment%20of%20the,most%20extensive%20in%20the%20world.\">Sewers Collection\u003c/a> at the Chicago Library, it had the most extensive system in the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that was not enough, and in the 1970s, the Windy City still discharged sewage into waterways about 100 times a year. The federal government required Chicago to clean up its act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, Chicago has reduced its smelly water issues by digging massive tunnels up to 300 feet below the Chicago River and others that flow around the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12029553 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/08/cleaner-1180x787.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city also captures runoff and sewage in three above-ground reservoirs, storing the water until it can be treated and released. The current system can store 11 billion gallons of water and will have the capacity to hold 17.5 billion gallons by 2029.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is working, but there is always going to be some storm that will create problems,” said Marcelo Garcia, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “When the tunnels and reservoirs fill up, and you get another storm that takes you basically back to ground zero.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, the city discharges about 10 times annually, about the same as San Francisco. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago hopes discharges will decrease when the new reservoir is finished.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The pollution load has drastically decreased,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, assistant director of engineering for Chicago’s reclamation district. But storms are testing the system, he added, which was designed before the current effects of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996295\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996295\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/481300323_938424718481344_7313946279226847448_n-e1741972639259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1254\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Building Chicago’s infrastructure: Workers construct the Calumet Sag Sewer near 127th Street and the Little Calumet River on July 20, 1921. This vital project helped expand the city’s sewer system, supporting flood control and wastewater management in the growing region. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The waterways are cleaner than ever, but we still have flooding,” Fitzpatrick said. “So we realize [the tunnels and reservoirs] aren’t the only solution.” The agency also manages porous parking lots and hundreds of other projects that allow rainwater to infiltrate into the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What can San Francisco learn from Chicago regarding reducing dirty flows? Garcia said tunnels are an “obvious thing to do,” but it is important to remember that Chicago has many times the open space and can store 16 times more water than San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC said digging tunnels would significantly raise water bills for San Franciscans. In a fact sheet, the agency wrote the 7-by-7 mile-wide city would need 13 miles of tunnels 24 feet in diameter to capture overflows just on the city’s bayside each year but noted it still wouldn’t prevent discharges “in the biggest storms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New York — ‘An all-the-above strategy’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2005, the federal government cited New York City for violating the Clean Water Act because its sewer systems \u003ca href=\"https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/cso/nyc-cso\">spewed contaminated water\u003c/a> into Flushing Bay, Jamaica Bay and tributaries to the East River, Long Island Sound and Outer Harbor. Around 60% of New York City’s sewers are part of a combined system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Chicago, which sits on massive amounts of limestone that it was able to dig into, New York City has limited subterranean space, extensive underground infrastructure and a high water table.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996288\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996288\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A living landscape: The green roof at Greenpoint Public Library in Brooklyn, New York, on March 7, 2025. Completed in 2020 as part of the library’s Environmental Education Center, the space features soil beds for horticultural programs, solar panels for renewable energy and permeable paving to manage rainwater sustainably. \u003ccite>(Jack Beal for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Big Apple has instead invested in more than 13,000 rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement and other infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“New York City is not the first city to use green infrastructure, but it is the first city to broadly implement it specifically for this purpose of combined sewer overflow management,” said Bernice Rosenzweig\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>professor of environmental science at Sarah Lawrence College.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While New York still grapples with reducing its discharges, Rosenzweig thinks San Francisco can learn a lot from it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996289\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996289\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/NYC_Map-e1741973347558.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1355\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mapping sustainability: The Green Infrastructure Program map, created by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, offers an interactive tool for users to explore green infrastructure projects across the city’s five boroughs, highlighting efforts to manage stormwater and promote environmental resilience. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of New York City Department of Environmental Protection)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“New York City and San Francisco have a lot of similarities,” Rosenzweig said — even though New York’s population is more than 10 times bigger. “They’re some of the densest communities in the United States, and they both rely on subterranean infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Building green infrastructure has the effect of punching “holes” in the hard concrete landscape to “create sponges” so rainwater can be absorbed into the ground, said Jennifer Cherrier, an earth and environmental sciences professor at City University of New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city isn’t relying solely on green infrastructure; it also has plans that include holding tanks, sewer improvements and marsh restoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996290\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996290 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1020x336.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-768x253.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1920x633.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nature’s solutions: (Left) A rain garden at Saint Mary’s Park in the Bronx, New York, in March 2025, captures runoff from the recreation center’s roof, gradually releasing it to irrigate the garden while easing the strain on the city’s drainage system. The curb cuts direct water from the pavement into the ground. (Right) Snowdrops bloom in a rain garden beside permeable pavers at the Gil Hodges Community Garden in Brooklyn, New York, in March 2025. This rain garden, paired with permeable pavers, captures and reuses over 285,000 gallons of rainwater annually, promoting sustainable stormwater management. \u003ccite>(Jack Beal for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our waters are getting a lot cleaner,” Cherrier said. “We have great white shark nursery grounds showing up again. We have had whales underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the advocacy group Save the Sound estimates that more than 21 billion gallons of raw sewage enter New York City’s coastal waters annually, more than 10 times that of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really do need an all-of-the-above strategy, and the strategies that are implemented are going to vary across the city,” Rosenzweig said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Milwaukee — ‘Every drop of water counts’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the height of a water quality crisis in the 1970s, Milwaukee poured millions of gallons of sewage and stormwater into Lake Michigan an average of 60 times a year. Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, described the rivers in the region “as big, open sewers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, over time, the city brought down the number of discharges; last year, it had only one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal was zero, and we had one,” Shafer said. “That’s not good enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996284\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996284 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1121\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-800x448.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1020x572.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-768x430.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1920x1076.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lessons from Chicago’s infrastructure: The McCook Reservoir, stages 1 and 2, part of Chicago’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), photographed on May 15, 2023, during excavation. This critical infrastructure project is designed to prevent pollution and manage stormwater, helping to protect the city from flooding and improve water quality. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Dan Wendt/MWRDGC)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Milwaukee applied the strategies pioneered in Chicago, digging miles of deep tunnels. It’s also developed more green infrastructure, like New York, transforming more than 5 square miles of land into a watershed and deploying rain barrels and green roofs to capture billions of gallons of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Tunnels are the backbone of everything we do,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also sends alerts for residents to reduce water use during storms to “preserve the tunnels for the big events by cutting off the water at the surface.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996321 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A step toward sustainability: A green infrastructure installation at San Francisco State University on Feb. 28, 2025, outside the science building. This basin captures and infiltrates stormwater through a spillway, channeling runoff into a swale that directs water to an outlet drain, enhancing the campus’s resilience to heavy rainfall. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“When we started it, we were laughed at,” Shafer said. “Now we have people actively signing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC said San Francisco’s water use is low compared to other cities, and the city has enough capacity to not issue household alerts. “We’re more worried about the rain coming down rather than people flushing their toilets; we can generally handle that,” said Joel Prather, the SFPUC’s assistant general manager for wastewater enterprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Shafer understands San Francisco is geographically different, he thinks the city could learn from Milwaukee’s success at reducing pollution in Lake Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think you have to take this approach that every drop of water counts, no matter where it hits the surface,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "San Francisco’s aging sewer system overflows during storms, polluting the ocean and bay. Other big cities have tackled the issue with tunnels, green development and holistic water management. ",
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"title": "Lessons From Elsewhere: Managing San Francisco's Stormwater and Sewage Mess | KQED",
"description": "San Francisco’s aging sewer system overflows during storms, polluting the ocean and bay. Other big cities have tackled the issue with tunnels, green development and holistic water management. ",
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"headline": "Lessons From Elsewhere: Managing San Francisco's Stormwater and Sewage Mess",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco shares one nasty thing in common with New York, Chicago and Milwaukee. When big storms soak each city, \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/science/1996145/sf-dumps-millions-of-gallons-of-sewage-during-big-storms-surfers-say-that-needs-to-stop\">millions of gallons of stormwater and raw sewage pour\u003c/a> into nearby waterways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a legacy of how the cities were built over a century ago. Sewage and stormwater flow through the same pipes, and during large storms, the combined systems overflow, spilling into rivers, lakes and oceans. The federal government has mandated that the four cities clean up the water pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has spent billions of dollars to improve its system, but it has a long way to go, especially with the growing intensity of storms due to human-caused climate change. Water experts suggest the city can learn from the successes of other cities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New York has invested in green infrastructure, turning its concrete jungle into a sponge to soak up water. Chicago and Milwaukee both dug massive tunnels deep in the earth to capture water flows while also leading the way with adaptation strategies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has upgraded parts of the combined sewer and stormwater system, installed collection boxes across the city and created hundreds of small green infrastructure projects, all to capture hundreds of millions of gallons of water annually, reducing overflows by 80% since the 1970s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996294\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996294\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A greener, safer corridor: Trees line the center median of Cesar Chavez Street in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2025, as part of a streetscape project that transformed the area with widened sidewalks, stormwater planters and redesigned intersections to enhance pedestrian safety and urban greenery. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most of the year, the system works well, treating all of the city’s wastewater with little issue. However, during the rainy season, the city discharges nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/3-24-cv-02594-city-county-san-francisco-complaint-2024-05-01.pdf\">2 billion gallons of sewage water\u003c/a> into the ocean and San Francisco Bay, according to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1996145/sf-dumps-millions-of-gallons-of-sewage-during-big-storms-surfers-say-that-needs-to-stop\">Surfers and environmentalists\u003c/a> are pressing the city to reduce pollution further and say they avoid the ocean on rainy days because swimming in the murky water can lead to ear and skin infections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last winter, sewers spilled into the bay 15 times, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. In an email to KQED, city officials wrote that all its fixes “alone are not a solution for reducing the impact of the increasingly intense storms that climate change brings.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996293\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996293 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-37-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Revitalizing a historic alley: Trees line Spofford Alley in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Feb. 28, 2025, as part of the Chinatown Spofford Living Alley project. The project includes flow-through planters that manage stormwater, pedestrian lighting for safety and bench seating for visitors to rest and take in the area. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The dispute over water pollution in San Francisco reached the Supreme Court after the EPA alleged the city repeatedly violated the Clean Water Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco sued in response, claiming the regulations were too vague. The conservative-leaning court \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029553/supreme-court-sides-with-san-francisco-against-epa-sewage-lawsuit\">largely sided with the city\u003c/a> in an opinion released in early March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s no simple or cheap solution for San Francisco’s sewage woes, and no city has implemented a perfect fix, but Chicago, Milwaukee and New York’s efforts to soak up the rain provide a potential model for how to tackle the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chicago — ‘Waterways are cleaner than ever’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chicago has a long history of water quality issues. In the late 1800s, the Chicago River was essentially the city’s latrine and flowed directly into Lake Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We soon started to see massive outbreaks of typhoid and other waterborne diseases,” said Karl Rockne, an environmental engineering professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. “We recognized that we had to do something here in Chicago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996291\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996291\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1258\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-800x503.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1020x642.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-768x483.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1536x966.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0201_daily_historical_1904_0922_2958_000-1920x1208.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grit and progress: Laborers pause for a photograph on Sept. 22, 1904, during construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal extension. Covered in drilling mud, they stand beside compressed air rock drills used to bore holes for explosives. Built from 1903 to 1907, the four-mile extension connected Lockport to Joliet, enabling full navigation from Lake Michigan to the Des Plaines River and replacing the aging I&M Canal. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To prevent sewage from reaching Lake Michigan, the city \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kSsrrKMwPzQ&feature=youtu.be\">reversed the river’s flow\u003c/a> on \u003ca href=\"https://mwrd.org/news/chicago-rivers-reversal-1900-was-engineering-triumph-transformed-our-city-chicago-sun-times\">Jan. 2, 1900\u003c/a>. The city later built an elaborate maze of sewers and treatment plants and by 1930, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.chipublib.org/fa-chicago-sewers-collection/#:~:text=Later%2C%20the%20establishment%20of%20the,most%20extensive%20in%20the%20world.\">Sewers Collection\u003c/a> at the Chicago Library, it had the most extensive system in the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that was not enough, and in the 1970s, the Windy City still discharged sewage into waterways about 100 times a year. The federal government required Chicago to clean up its act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, Chicago has reduced its smelly water issues by digging massive tunnels up to 300 feet below the Chicago River and others that flow around the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city also captures runoff and sewage in three above-ground reservoirs, storing the water until it can be treated and released. The current system can store 11 billion gallons of water and will have the capacity to hold 17.5 billion gallons by 2029.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is working, but there is always going to be some storm that will create problems,” said Marcelo Garcia, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “When the tunnels and reservoirs fill up, and you get another storm that takes you basically back to ground zero.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, the city discharges about 10 times annually, about the same as San Francisco. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago hopes discharges will decrease when the new reservoir is finished.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The pollution load has drastically decreased,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, assistant director of engineering for Chicago’s reclamation district. But storms are testing the system, he added, which was designed before the current effects of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996295\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996295\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/481300323_938424718481344_7313946279226847448_n-e1741972639259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1254\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Building Chicago’s infrastructure: Workers construct the Calumet Sag Sewer near 127th Street and the Little Calumet River on July 20, 1921. This vital project helped expand the city’s sewer system, supporting flood control and wastewater management in the growing region. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The waterways are cleaner than ever, but we still have flooding,” Fitzpatrick said. “So we realize [the tunnels and reservoirs] aren’t the only solution.” The agency also manages porous parking lots and hundreds of other projects that allow rainwater to infiltrate into the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What can San Francisco learn from Chicago regarding reducing dirty flows? Garcia said tunnels are an “obvious thing to do,” but it is important to remember that Chicago has many times the open space and can store 16 times more water than San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC said digging tunnels would significantly raise water bills for San Franciscans. In a fact sheet, the agency wrote the 7-by-7 mile-wide city would need 13 miles of tunnels 24 feet in diameter to capture overflows just on the city’s bayside each year but noted it still wouldn’t prevent discharges “in the biggest storms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New York — ‘An all-the-above strategy’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2005, the federal government cited New York City for violating the Clean Water Act because its sewer systems \u003ca href=\"https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/cso/nyc-cso\">spewed contaminated water\u003c/a> into Flushing Bay, Jamaica Bay and tributaries to the East River, Long Island Sound and Outer Harbor. Around 60% of New York City’s sewers are part of a combined system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Chicago, which sits on massive amounts of limestone that it was able to dig into, New York City has limited subterranean space, extensive underground infrastructure and a high water table.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996288\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996288\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_254-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A living landscape: The green roof at Greenpoint Public Library in Brooklyn, New York, on March 7, 2025. Completed in 2020 as part of the library’s Environmental Education Center, the space features soil beds for horticultural programs, solar panels for renewable energy and permeable paving to manage rainwater sustainably. \u003ccite>(Jack Beal for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Big Apple has instead invested in more than 13,000 rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement and other infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“New York City is not the first city to use green infrastructure, but it is the first city to broadly implement it specifically for this purpose of combined sewer overflow management,” said Bernice Rosenzweig\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>professor of environmental science at Sarah Lawrence College.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While New York still grapples with reducing its discharges, Rosenzweig thinks San Francisco can learn a lot from it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996289\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996289\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/NYC_Map-e1741973347558.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1355\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mapping sustainability: The Green Infrastructure Program map, created by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, offers an interactive tool for users to explore green infrastructure projects across the city’s five boroughs, highlighting efforts to manage stormwater and promote environmental resilience. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of New York City Department of Environmental Protection)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“New York City and San Francisco have a lot of similarities,” Rosenzweig said — even though New York’s population is more than 10 times bigger. “They’re some of the densest communities in the United States, and they both rely on subterranean infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Building green infrastructure has the effect of punching “holes” in the hard concrete landscape to “create sponges” so rainwater can be absorbed into the ground, said Jennifer Cherrier, an earth and environmental sciences professor at City University of New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city isn’t relying solely on green infrastructure; it also has plans that include holding tanks, sewer improvements and marsh restoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996290\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996290 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1020x336.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-768x253.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/20250307_Water-Cities_JB_121_duo-1920x633.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nature’s solutions: (Left) A rain garden at Saint Mary’s Park in the Bronx, New York, in March 2025, captures runoff from the recreation center’s roof, gradually releasing it to irrigate the garden while easing the strain on the city’s drainage system. The curb cuts direct water from the pavement into the ground. (Right) Snowdrops bloom in a rain garden beside permeable pavers at the Gil Hodges Community Garden in Brooklyn, New York, in March 2025. This rain garden, paired with permeable pavers, captures and reuses over 285,000 gallons of rainwater annually, promoting sustainable stormwater management. \u003ccite>(Jack Beal for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our waters are getting a lot cleaner,” Cherrier said. “We have great white shark nursery grounds showing up again. We have had whales underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the advocacy group Save the Sound estimates that more than 21 billion gallons of raw sewage enter New York City’s coastal waters annually, more than 10 times that of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really do need an all-of-the-above strategy, and the strategies that are implemented are going to vary across the city,” Rosenzweig said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Milwaukee — ‘Every drop of water counts’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the height of a water quality crisis in the 1970s, Milwaukee poured millions of gallons of sewage and stormwater into Lake Michigan an average of 60 times a year. Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, described the rivers in the region “as big, open sewers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, over time, the city brought down the number of discharges; last year, it had only one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal was zero, and we had one,” Shafer said. “That’s not good enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996284\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996284 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1121\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-800x448.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1020x572.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-768x430.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/23-0515_0005-1920x1076.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lessons from Chicago’s infrastructure: The McCook Reservoir, stages 1 and 2, part of Chicago’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), photographed on May 15, 2023, during excavation. This critical infrastructure project is designed to prevent pollution and manage stormwater, helping to protect the city from flooding and improve water quality. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Dan Wendt/MWRDGC)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Milwaukee applied the strategies pioneered in Chicago, digging miles of deep tunnels. It’s also developed more green infrastructure, like New York, transforming more than 5 square miles of land into a watershed and deploying rain barrels and green roofs to capture billions of gallons of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Tunnels are the backbone of everything we do,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also sends alerts for residents to reduce water use during storms to “preserve the tunnels for the big events by cutting off the water at the surface.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996321 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/250228-WaterCitiesSF-19-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A step toward sustainability: A green infrastructure installation at San Francisco State University on Feb. 28, 2025, outside the science building. This basin captures and infiltrates stormwater through a spillway, channeling runoff into a swale that directs water to an outlet drain, enhancing the campus’s resilience to heavy rainfall. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“When we started it, we were laughed at,” Shafer said. “Now we have people actively signing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC said San Francisco’s water use is low compared to other cities, and the city has enough capacity to not issue household alerts. “We’re more worried about the rain coming down rather than people flushing their toilets; we can generally handle that,” said Joel Prather, the SFPUC’s assistant general manager for wastewater enterprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Shafer understands San Francisco is geographically different, he thinks the city could learn from Milwaukee’s success at reducing pollution in Lake Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think you have to take this approach that every drop of water counts, no matter where it hits the surface,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "where-to-see-wildflowers-near-you-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "Top Places to See Wildflowers Around the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cp>Each spring, the Bay Area’s rolling hills and coastal landscapes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981882/where-to-see-wildflowers-near-you-in-the-bay-area-plus-the-science-behind-the-super-bloom\">burst into color\u003c/a> as wildflowers blanket the terrain. From the iconic\u003ca href=\"https://calscape.org/Eschscholzia-californica-(California-Poppy)\"> California poppy\u003c/a> to the delicate\u003ca href=\"https://calscape.org/Primula-jeffreyi-(Sierra-Shooting-Star)\"> shooting star\u003c/a>, these blooms are just now beginning to emerge around the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is the most biologically diverse state in the country and is home to more than 8,000 species of plants — over half of which are native to the state. Wildflowers have thrived in the Bay Area thanks to our Mediterranean climate of wet winters and dry summers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So with all the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-weather\">rain we’ve been getting\u003c/a> these past few months, what’s the forecast like for wildflower blooms — or even a “super bloom” — around the Bay Area and the state?\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#superbloom-bay-area\">Jump straight to: Where to see wildflowers in bloom in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why California probably won’t see a 2025 ‘super bloom’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As Cameron Barrows, a conservation ecologist at the Center for Conservation Biology at UC Riverside, told KQED in 2023: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981882/where-to-see-wildflowers-near-you-in-the-bay-area-plus-the-science-behind-the-super-bloom\">“Super bloom” is not actually a scientific term\u003c/a> and is mainly used by the media to describe incredible uncommon bloom events, when many different species of wildflowers bloom at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard Minnich, a professor at UC Riverside’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said one of the most memorable \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2005/03/03/4521310/wet-winter-brings-life-to-death-valley\">California super blooms of the last few decades\u003c/a>, back in 2005, was thanks to a wet winter that followed extended dry periods. “The best flower year is the first dry year after a multi-year drought,” said Minnich — because the drought suppresses invasive species or annual grasses, leaving room for the wildflowers to take off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While wildflowers are starting to bloom across the state, Minnich doesn’t anticipate a “super bloom” on a par with the breathtaking displays of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2005/03/03/4521310/wet-winter-brings-life-to-death-valley\">2005\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2019/03/19/704707396/poppy-apocalypse-california-city-swarmed-by-selfie-stick-toting-tourists\">2019\u003c/a>. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30077\">Southern California state parks\u003c/a>, the year’s wildflower bloom is expected to be limited due to below-average winter rainfall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everything here [in Southern California] is parched and brittle, with little or no green sprouts. Unless there is significant rain landing in the deserts in the next few weeks, I predict the desert wildflower show will be a bust,” UC Riverside’s Barrows told KQED by email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “a bad year for Southern California flowers doesn’t necessarily mean a bad year for Northern California flowers,” Ryan Forbes, an educator with California State Parks’ Bay Area district, told the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/california-wildflower-bloom-20188019.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. And the Bay Area offers many stunning spots for those eager to see wildflowers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out, check park websites for any closures or conditions. To avoid crowds, consider visiting wildflower sites on weekdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, respect the landscape by staying on marked trails, avoiding flower picking, and packing out what you bring in. Wildflowers play a vital role in supporting ecosystems, and damaging them affects pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as other wildlife that depend on them for food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to contribute to wildflower research, consider sharing your sightings on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.inaturalist.org/\">iNaturalist app\u003c/a> to help scientists track species distribution and seasonal changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1984535\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1984535\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Purple wildflowers blossom.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stems of purple lupine blossom along Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley, on April 26, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some of the spots listed below will bloom during the spring and summer months, and the number of flowers that actually bloom will vary every year depending on how much rain and dry weather we get. So, if you can’t make it out into nature soon, don’t worry: You’ve got time to spot some beautiful blooms over the next few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in San Francisco:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Bernal-Heights-Park-151\">Bernal Heights\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/coronaheightspark-328\">Corona Heights\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Grandview-Park-Trail-400\">Grandview Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfparksalliance.org/our-parks/parks/tank-hill\">Tank Hill\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/716/McLaren-Park\">McLaren Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://presidio.gov/explore/attractions/batteries-to-bluffs-trail\">Batteries to Bluffs Trail in Presidio\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/511/Glen-Canyon-Park\">Glen Canyon Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Balboa-Natural-Area-325\">Balboa Natural Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Mt-Davidson-Park-190\">Mount Davidson\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in North Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/\">Point Reyes National Seashore\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471\">Mount Tamalpais\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/tennessee_valley.htm\">Tennessee Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/places/000/sca-trailhead.htm\">SCA Trail, Sausalito\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=466\">China Camp State Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in East Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Hills\">Berkeley Hills\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden\">Tilden Regional Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/coyote-hills\">Coyote Hills Regional Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol\">Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/10/664\">Shell Ridge Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517\">Mount Diablo (near Walnut Creek)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in South Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/santa-teresa-county-park\">Stile Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/calero-county-park\">Calero County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/coyote-lake-harvey-bear-ranch-park\">Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/almaden-quicksilver-county-park\">Almaden Quicksilver County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/joseph-d-grant-county-park\">Joseph D. Grant County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/uvas-canyon-county-park\">Uvas Canyon County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://parks.ca.gov/henrycoe/\">Henry W. Coe State Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517\">Mount Hamilton\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/rancho.html\">Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyotevalley.html\">Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/sierra-azul\">Mount Umunhum, Sierra Azul Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/st-josephs-hill\">Manzanita Trail, St. Joseph’s Hill Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2088/2028\">Alum Rock Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers on the Peninsula:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm\">Mori Point, Pacifica\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=531\">Half Moon Bay State Beach\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/parks/san-bruno-mountain-state-county-park\">San Bruno Mountain Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/parks/edgewood-park-natural-preserve\">Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/pulgas-ridge\">Pulgas Ridge Reserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/russian-ridge\">Russian Ridge Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Wildflower guided tours and events:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/calendar/month?terms=wildflower\">Wildflower events at East Bay Regional Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/upcoming-events?field_preserve=98&city=All&attributes=All&category=73&activities=All\">Guided hikes at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma-Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30077\">Spring flower bloom updates by California State Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/wildflower-shows\">Wildflower shows at California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "While experts say there might not be a ‘super bloom’ this year, wildflowers in the Bay Area are still a sight to behold. Here’s where to see them.",
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"title": "Where to See the Best Wildflowers in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"headline": "Top Places to See Wildflowers Around the Bay Area",
"datePublished": "2025-03-16T04:00:27-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Each spring, the Bay Area’s rolling hills and coastal landscapes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981882/where-to-see-wildflowers-near-you-in-the-bay-area-plus-the-science-behind-the-super-bloom\">burst into color\u003c/a> as wildflowers blanket the terrain. From the iconic\u003ca href=\"https://calscape.org/Eschscholzia-californica-(California-Poppy)\"> California poppy\u003c/a> to the delicate\u003ca href=\"https://calscape.org/Primula-jeffreyi-(Sierra-Shooting-Star)\"> shooting star\u003c/a>, these blooms are just now beginning to emerge around the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is the most biologically diverse state in the country and is home to more than 8,000 species of plants — over half of which are native to the state. Wildflowers have thrived in the Bay Area thanks to our Mediterranean climate of wet winters and dry summers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So with all the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-weather\">rain we’ve been getting\u003c/a> these past few months, what’s the forecast like for wildflower blooms — or even a “super bloom” — around the Bay Area and the state?\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#superbloom-bay-area\">Jump straight to: Where to see wildflowers in bloom in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why California probably won’t see a 2025 ‘super bloom’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As Cameron Barrows, a conservation ecologist at the Center for Conservation Biology at UC Riverside, told KQED in 2023: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981882/where-to-see-wildflowers-near-you-in-the-bay-area-plus-the-science-behind-the-super-bloom\">“Super bloom” is not actually a scientific term\u003c/a> and is mainly used by the media to describe incredible uncommon bloom events, when many different species of wildflowers bloom at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard Minnich, a professor at UC Riverside’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said one of the most memorable \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2005/03/03/4521310/wet-winter-brings-life-to-death-valley\">California super blooms of the last few decades\u003c/a>, back in 2005, was thanks to a wet winter that followed extended dry periods. “The best flower year is the first dry year after a multi-year drought,” said Minnich — because the drought suppresses invasive species or annual grasses, leaving room for the wildflowers to take off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While wildflowers are starting to bloom across the state, Minnich doesn’t anticipate a “super bloom” on a par with the breathtaking displays of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2005/03/03/4521310/wet-winter-brings-life-to-death-valley\">2005\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2019/03/19/704707396/poppy-apocalypse-california-city-swarmed-by-selfie-stick-toting-tourists\">2019\u003c/a>. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30077\">Southern California state parks\u003c/a>, the year’s wildflower bloom is expected to be limited due to below-average winter rainfall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everything here [in Southern California] is parched and brittle, with little or no green sprouts. Unless there is significant rain landing in the deserts in the next few weeks, I predict the desert wildflower show will be a bust,” UC Riverside’s Barrows told KQED by email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “a bad year for Southern California flowers doesn’t necessarily mean a bad year for Northern California flowers,” Ryan Forbes, an educator with California State Parks’ Bay Area district, told the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/california-wildflower-bloom-20188019.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. And the Bay Area offers many stunning spots for those eager to see wildflowers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out, check park websites for any closures or conditions. To avoid crowds, consider visiting wildflower sites on weekdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, respect the landscape by staying on marked trails, avoiding flower picking, and packing out what you bring in. Wildflowers play a vital role in supporting ecosystems, and damaging them affects pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as other wildlife that depend on them for food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to contribute to wildflower research, consider sharing your sightings on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.inaturalist.org/\">iNaturalist app\u003c/a> to help scientists track species distribution and seasonal changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1984535\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1984535\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Purple wildflowers blossom.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/04262023_ksuzuki_warmweather-103-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stems of purple lupine blossom along Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley, on April 26, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some of the spots listed below will bloom during the spring and summer months, and the number of flowers that actually bloom will vary every year depending on how much rain and dry weather we get. So, if you can’t make it out into nature soon, don’t worry: You’ve got time to spot some beautiful blooms over the next few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in San Francisco:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Bernal-Heights-Park-151\">Bernal Heights\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/coronaheightspark-328\">Corona Heights\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Grandview-Park-Trail-400\">Grandview Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfparksalliance.org/our-parks/parks/tank-hill\">Tank Hill\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/716/McLaren-Park\">McLaren Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://presidio.gov/explore/attractions/batteries-to-bluffs-trail\">Batteries to Bluffs Trail in Presidio\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/511/Glen-Canyon-Park\">Glen Canyon Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Balboa-Natural-Area-325\">Balboa Natural Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Mt-Davidson-Park-190\">Mount Davidson\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in North Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/\">Point Reyes National Seashore\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471\">Mount Tamalpais\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/tennessee_valley.htm\">Tennessee Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/places/000/sca-trailhead.htm\">SCA Trail, Sausalito\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=466\">China Camp State Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in East Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Hills\">Berkeley Hills\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden\">Tilden Regional Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/coyote-hills\">Coyote Hills Regional Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol\">Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/10/664\">Shell Ridge Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517\">Mount Diablo (near Walnut Creek)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers in South Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/santa-teresa-county-park\">Stile Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/calero-county-park\">Calero County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/coyote-lake-harvey-bear-ranch-park\">Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/almaden-quicksilver-county-park\">Almaden Quicksilver County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/joseph-d-grant-county-park\">Joseph D. Grant County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/uvas-canyon-county-park\">Uvas Canyon County Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://parks.ca.gov/henrycoe/\">Henry W. Coe State Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517\">Mount Hamilton\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/rancho.html\">Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyotevalley.html\">Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/sierra-azul\">Mount Umunhum, Sierra Azul Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/st-josephs-hill\">Manzanita Trail, St. Joseph’s Hill Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2088/2028\">Alum Rock Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see wildflowers on the Peninsula:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm\">Mori Point, Pacifica\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=531\">Half Moon Bay State Beach\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/parks/san-bruno-mountain-state-county-park\">San Bruno Mountain Park\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/parks/edgewood-park-natural-preserve\">Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/pulgas-ridge\">Pulgas Ridge Reserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/preserves/russian-ridge\">Russian Ridge Preserve\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Wildflower guided tours and events:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/calendar/month?terms=wildflower\">Wildflower events at East Bay Regional Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.openspaceauthority.org/upcoming-events?field_preserve=98&city=All&attributes=All&category=73&activities=All\">Guided hikes at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma-Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30077\">Spring flower bloom updates by California State Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/wildflower-shows\">Wildflower shows at California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>On Thursday night into early Friday morning, residents in the Bay Area will be able to witness a spectacular total lunar eclipse — often called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1979293/how-to-see-sundays-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse-in-the-bay-area\">blood moon\u003c/a>” due to its deep red hue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#how-to-see-blood-moon\">Jump straight to: What time is the lunar eclipse in the Bay Area tonight?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This celestial event happens when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow that darkens the moon and turns it into a striking shade of red during totality. And unlike solar eclipses, which require special glasses, you can enjoy the lunar eclipse with the naked eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The last time a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1994403/a-celestial-trifecta-what-to-know-about-tuesdays-lunar-eclipse\">total lunar eclipse was visible\u003c/a> from North America was just two years ago, in November 2022. “These total eclipses of the moon happen much more frequently than the total eclipses of the sun at any given location because you can see the full moon all over part of the Earth,” said Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer and professor at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lunar eclipse is visible to anyone on the night side of Earth. In contrast, total solar eclipses are only visible along a narrow path of totality — sometimes just a few hundred miles wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996241\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1041px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996241\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1041\" height=\"783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy.jpg 1041w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-800x602.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-1020x767.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-768x578.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, a lunar eclipse takes place. \u003ccite>(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"how-to-see-blood-moon\">\u003c/a>What time is the lunar eclipse tonight, and where can I see it in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This upcoming total lunar eclipse will be fully visible across the Bay Area tonight as long as you have a clear view of the moon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It will begin at around 10 p.m. P.S.T. on Thursday, March 13, and totality will occur at 11:26 p.m. The maximum eclipse — when the moon will be its reddest — will occur at 11:59 p.m. and last for about 30 minutes into the early hours of Friday, March 14.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole eclipse phase will last for about 64 minutes, from 10 p.m. to 1:47 a.m., with the best views occurring between 11:26 p.m. to 12:31 a.m.[aside postID=science_1996198 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/GettyImages-1242378655-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the moon moves slowly through the Earth’s shadow, we first see only part of the moon darkening,” Fraknoi said of the partial eclipse. “But then, as the Moon moves fully into the Earth’s shadow, we see its entire disk of the Moon become dark and reddish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During totality, the moon glows red because of \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/science/Rayleigh-scattering\">Rayleigh scattering,\u003c/a> the same phenomenon that makes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11979339/bay-areas-best-sunset-hikes-now-that-your-days-are-longer\">sunsets appear orange and red\u003c/a>. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, it filters out blue light and bends red light toward the moon, giving it that signature “blood” color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact shade of red depends on atmospheric conditions like dust, pollution and volcanic activity elsewhere, which can intensify the red hue, Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Astronomers have used calculations to predict lunar eclipses for centuries. “It’s a really nice indication that even if things are in turmoil on Earth, the heavens are doing their thing in a routine way,” Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It shows the clockwork motion of the heavens.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Thursday night into early Friday morning, residents in the Bay Area will be able to witness a spectacular total lunar eclipse — often called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1979293/how-to-see-sundays-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse-in-the-bay-area\">blood moon\u003c/a>” due to its deep red hue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#how-to-see-blood-moon\">Jump straight to: What time is the lunar eclipse in the Bay Area tonight?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This celestial event happens when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow that darkens the moon and turns it into a striking shade of red during totality. And unlike solar eclipses, which require special glasses, you can enjoy the lunar eclipse with the naked eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The last time a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1994403/a-celestial-trifecta-what-to-know-about-tuesdays-lunar-eclipse\">total lunar eclipse was visible\u003c/a> from North America was just two years ago, in November 2022. “These total eclipses of the moon happen much more frequently than the total eclipses of the sun at any given location because you can see the full moon all over part of the Earth,” said Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer and professor at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lunar eclipse is visible to anyone on the night side of Earth. In contrast, total solar eclipses are only visible along a narrow path of totality — sometimes just a few hundred miles wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996241\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1041px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996241\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1041\" height=\"783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy.jpg 1041w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-800x602.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-1020x767.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/03/lunar-eclipse-diagram_0-copy-768x578.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, a lunar eclipse takes place. \u003ccite>(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"how-to-see-blood-moon\">\u003c/a>What time is the lunar eclipse tonight, and where can I see it in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This upcoming total lunar eclipse will be fully visible across the Bay Area tonight as long as you have a clear view of the moon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It will begin at around 10 p.m. P.S.T. on Thursday, March 13, and totality will occur at 11:26 p.m. The maximum eclipse — when the moon will be its reddest — will occur at 11:59 p.m. and last for about 30 minutes into the early hours of Friday, March 14.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole eclipse phase will last for about 64 minutes, from 10 p.m. to 1:47 a.m., with the best views occurring between 11:26 p.m. to 12:31 a.m.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the moon moves slowly through the Earth’s shadow, we first see only part of the moon darkening,” Fraknoi said of the partial eclipse. “But then, as the Moon moves fully into the Earth’s shadow, we see its entire disk of the Moon become dark and reddish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During totality, the moon glows red because of \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/science/Rayleigh-scattering\">Rayleigh scattering,\u003c/a> the same phenomenon that makes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11979339/bay-areas-best-sunset-hikes-now-that-your-days-are-longer\">sunsets appear orange and red\u003c/a>. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, it filters out blue light and bends red light toward the moon, giving it that signature “blood” color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact shade of red depends on atmospheric conditions like dust, pollution and volcanic activity elsewhere, which can intensify the red hue, Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Astronomers have used calculations to predict lunar eclipses for centuries. “It’s a really nice indication that even if things are in turmoil on Earth, the heavens are doing their thing in a routine way,” Fraknoi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It shows the clockwork motion of the heavens.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>As of Feb. 14, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/02/26/nx-s1-5307908/national-parks-layoffs-visitors-disruptions\">President Donald Trump’s administration has fired roughly 1,000 National Park Service employees\u003c/a> — about 5% of its workforce — as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5288988/doge-elon-musk-staff-trump\">a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce\u003c/a>. The plan, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, has faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/video/protests-hit-yosemite-over-national-park-layoffs/\">widespread criticism from outdoor enthusiasts\u003c/a> and former park employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While 5,000 seasonal jobs that were also originally cut \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-20/trump-administration-backtracks-eliminating-thousands-national-parks-employees\">have now been reinstated\u003c/a> following public pushback, permanent employees still in their probationary period — many of whom played roles in conservation and park operations — remain unemployed and are uncertain about their future. NPS told KQED in an email that it is hiring seasonal workers to ensure visitors “have a chance to explore and connect” with our national parks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm\">Golden Gate National Recreation Area\u003c/a> — which includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/muwo\">Muir Woods\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/alca\">Alcatraz Island\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/prsf\">Presidio\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/fopo\">Fort Point National Historic Site\u003c/a> — expects to lose 60 to 80 employees, according to Chris Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This administration is using very blunt tools to reduce government in a way that doesn’t regard parks,” Lehnertz said on a recent episode of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101909000/what-trumps-order-to-dramatically-reduce-presidio-trust-means-for-the-beloved-park\">Forum\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kenanchan/\">Kenan Chan\u003c/a>, a former marine scientist at Channel Islands National Park, was one such national parks worker affected. His work focused on intertidal monitoring for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/im/medn/rocky-intertidal-habitat.htm\">a program\u003c/a> that tracked changes in population in kelp forests, algae, invertebrates and fish for over 40 years — with the goal to identify trends and potential threats to the ecosystem’s overall health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan, who is from the Bay Area, had been with NPS as a seasonal employee for a decade before finally securing a permanent position in October last year. But just months into his new role, he was let go on Valentine’s Day — and “it happened very fast and unexpectedly,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996204\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996204\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-800x521.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-1020x664.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former marine scientist Kenan Chan working on long-term intertidal monitoring at Channel Islands National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kenan Chan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How will national parks — and their visitors — be changed by these losses?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These layoffs have included public-facing roles like campsite maintenance, custodial teams and even search and rescue personnel — the absence of which can have extreme consequences for visitor safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ranger_wild/\">Alex Wild\u003c/a>, a former interpretive ranger and Emergency Medical Technician at Devil’s Postpile National Monument, about 50 miles south of Yosemite, told \u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-job-cuts-threaten-safety-at-national-parks-workers-say\">Bloomberg\u003c/a> that in the summer and fall, he would respond to emergency calls “two to three times a week and mostly on weekends, to respond to visitor emergencies.” These situations, said Wild, can range from “a twisted ankle” to “a flare-up of a heart condition.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fewer staff performing emergency medical technician and search and rescue roles means that visitors might have to wait longer for the remaining staff to respond to emergencies. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">Jump ahead to: What should national parks visitors know about safety amid the layoffs?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The layoffs have impacted not only public-facing positions like campsite maintenance and search and rescue but also roles that usually go unnoticed and are essential for long-term park health. “There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that are critical to ensuring the park maintains a healthy system, which will be maintained for generations to come,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan’s work has helped track changes experienced at the Channel Islands. “We’ve documented new invasive species, we’ve tracked the decline of some abalone species, we’ve contributed to countless research projects. This data helps inform fellow scientists and policymakers,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGRIKzqTK-0/?img_index=4\">he wrote in his Instagram post\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan hopes that the parks are able to restore the staff shortage “to allow the American people to fully enjoy these beautiful and amazing resources that we have. They are meant for everybody to enjoy,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do it because we love it. We’re passionate about the mission of the park service.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Planning to visit? Set your expectations\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In recent years, staff shortages at national parks — albeit on a much larger scale than these recent layoffs — have had big impacts on visitors. During the 2018 government shutdown that saw \u003ca href=\"https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/updated-impacts-of-the-trump-shutdown-\">80% of NPS employees furloughed\u003c/a>, fewer emergency and law enforcement personnel were left to police the parks or rescue injured guests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the recent layoffs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/yosemite-reservations-trump-20145111.php\">Yosemite National Park has delayed its summer campground reservations\u003c/a>. These reservations were implemented to better manage crowds and visitor expectations for the millions of summer visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beth Pratt, California regional executive director at the National Wildlife Federation, said this delay could lead to overcrowding, damage to wildlife, and strain on park infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reservations are usually open five months in advance, and experts worry that this delay may be “too close to the summer season to adequately plan for the park’s annual crush of visitors to avoid complications for both visitors and park infrastructure,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/02/yosemite-delay-summer-campground-reservation-sales-amid-staffing-crisis\">wrote Justin Housman on National Parks Traveler\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visitors should check \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm\">Yosemite’s website\u003c/a> for the latest on camping and reservations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neal Desai, Pacific regional director at the National Parks Conservation Association, NPCA — an independent, nonpartisan organization advocating for the NPS — said these recent park layoffs will impact the visitor experience in many ways, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Traffic into some parks will be longer than usual.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Park staff will pull back camping reservations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Parking will be harder to find due to larger crowds and less staff to manage them.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Trash may be overflowing from trash cans and dumpsters due to a lack of a cleanup crew.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bathrooms and trails in certain parks will be unmaintained.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Guided tours and ranger programs for kids may also be closed or have reduced hours.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>With layoffs impacting search and rescue staff as well as park EMTs, visitors should also plan ahead in case an emergency arises during their national park visit:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Be aware of weather alerts and warnings — and take extra caution at parks like Death Valley, where temperatures can rise to the hundreds in the summer. Prepare to cancel plans if weather conditions aren’t in your favor.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bring your own emergency kit that includes medicine, first aid supplies, food, water and other essentials. This list by NPS provides an overview of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm\">10 essentials in an emergency kit\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Be prepared to “self-rescue.” Wild told the \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/20/yosemite-national-park-staff-cuts/\">SF Standard\u003c/a> that visitors should be prepared to treat a national park “like a wilderness area and manage your own emergency.”\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Take extra caution when hiking more difficult terrain in parks, in the knowledge that if search and rescue roles have been cut in that park you’re visiting, you may have to manage a possible emergency situation on your own.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Desai encourages future visitors to set expectations before visiting a national park, understanding that the experience may not be what they were necessarily expecting due to park staff layoffs. “People have these expectations of what a visit to a national park should be. And they should expect to be disappointed if things [like staff shortages] don’t turn around,” he said.[aside label='Related Coverage' tag='national-parks']Desai also advises future visitors to proactively watch for updates from the park’s official websites and NPCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jonathan Farrington, CEO of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.yosemite.com/\">Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau\u003c/a>, urged visitors not to cancel their plans but to be mindful of the park’s limitations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If a family member asked me if they should come to Yosemite this year, I would absolutely say yes,” said Farrington in an email to KQED. But he also urged people to “visit responsibly,” recommending that tourists:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Plan their stay in advance.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arrive early.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Avoid peak traffic areas and promontories “between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.”\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As the federal cuts continue to ripple through the park service, Desai encouraged visitors to show appreciation for the remaining park staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are folks who have devoted their lives to helping people create lifetime memories in these special places,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And so, if you’re visiting a park and you see a park ranger, give them thanks and words of encouragement — because they deserve it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>NPS cuts deemed ‘unstrategic’ and ‘bad politics’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>From \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGIfyW3NUdE/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">park rangers\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/olakthepolak/\">custodial roles\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGLxMKbyKwq/\">locksmiths\u003c/a> and rescue officers, many former NPS employees like Channel Islands National Park’s Chan have taken to social media to share their stories and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGMT7C1SgoU/\">ways people can help America’s national parks\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These stories that are coming out are reminding people of the value of these types of jobs and the importance of the national park system,” Desai said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A poll conducted before Trump’s inauguration shows that \u003ca href=\"https://www.westword.com/news/even-maga-voters-oppose-cuts-national-parks-forest-services-23648871\">the majority of Americans approve of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service’s performance\u003c/a> across political party lines, with even Republicans identifying as “MAGA” overwhelmingly opposing cuts to these agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the NPCA, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npca.org/articles/6911-lost-jobs-broken-hearts-and-harms-to-national-parks\">NPS funding accounts for less than one-fifteenth of one percent of the federal budget\u003c/a>. Yet, in 2023, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-parks-contributed-record-high-%2455-6-billion-to-u-s-economy-supported-415-000-jobs-in-2023.htm\">national parks contributed $55.6 billion to the economy\u003c/a> and supported 415,000 jobs in nearby communities. That same year, 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in gateway towns, highlighting the financial ripple effect of park operations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Desai called the cuts “unstrategic” and “bad politics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our national parks are loved by all Americans across the political spectrum. They’re one of the few nonpartisan issues we see in our nation,” he said. “And they happen to be equally owned by every single person … attacking this institution is bad politics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from KQED’s Gilare Zada.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As of Feb. 14, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/02/26/nx-s1-5307908/national-parks-layoffs-visitors-disruptions\">President Donald Trump’s administration has fired roughly 1,000 National Park Service employees\u003c/a> — about 5% of its workforce — as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5288988/doge-elon-musk-staff-trump\">a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce\u003c/a>. The plan, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, has faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/video/protests-hit-yosemite-over-national-park-layoffs/\">widespread criticism from outdoor enthusiasts\u003c/a> and former park employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While 5,000 seasonal jobs that were also originally cut \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-20/trump-administration-backtracks-eliminating-thousands-national-parks-employees\">have now been reinstated\u003c/a> following public pushback, permanent employees still in their probationary period — many of whom played roles in conservation and park operations — remain unemployed and are uncertain about their future. NPS told KQED in an email that it is hiring seasonal workers to ensure visitors “have a chance to explore and connect” with our national parks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm\">Golden Gate National Recreation Area\u003c/a> — which includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/muwo\">Muir Woods\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/alca\">Alcatraz Island\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/prsf\">Presidio\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/fopo\">Fort Point National Historic Site\u003c/a> — expects to lose 60 to 80 employees, according to Chris Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This administration is using very blunt tools to reduce government in a way that doesn’t regard parks,” Lehnertz said on a recent episode of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101909000/what-trumps-order-to-dramatically-reduce-presidio-trust-means-for-the-beloved-park\">Forum\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kenanchan/\">Kenan Chan\u003c/a>, a former marine scientist at Channel Islands National Park, was one such national parks worker affected. His work focused on intertidal monitoring for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/im/medn/rocky-intertidal-habitat.htm\">a program\u003c/a> that tracked changes in population in kelp forests, algae, invertebrates and fish for over 40 years — with the goal to identify trends and potential threats to the ecosystem’s overall health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan, who is from the Bay Area, had been with NPS as a seasonal employee for a decade before finally securing a permanent position in October last year. But just months into his new role, he was let go on Valentine’s Day — and “it happened very fast and unexpectedly,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996204\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996204\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-800x521.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-1020x664.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_2514-scaled-e1740701051907-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former marine scientist Kenan Chan working on long-term intertidal monitoring at Channel Islands National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kenan Chan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How will national parks — and their visitors — be changed by these losses?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These layoffs have included public-facing roles like campsite maintenance, custodial teams and even search and rescue personnel — the absence of which can have extreme consequences for visitor safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ranger_wild/\">Alex Wild\u003c/a>, a former interpretive ranger and Emergency Medical Technician at Devil’s Postpile National Monument, about 50 miles south of Yosemite, told \u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-job-cuts-threaten-safety-at-national-parks-workers-say\">Bloomberg\u003c/a> that in the summer and fall, he would respond to emergency calls “two to three times a week and mostly on weekends, to respond to visitor emergencies.” These situations, said Wild, can range from “a twisted ankle” to “a flare-up of a heart condition.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fewer staff performing emergency medical technician and search and rescue roles means that visitors might have to wait longer for the remaining staff to respond to emergencies. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">Jump ahead to: What should national parks visitors know about safety amid the layoffs?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The layoffs have impacted not only public-facing positions like campsite maintenance and search and rescue but also roles that usually go unnoticed and are essential for long-term park health. “There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that are critical to ensuring the park maintains a healthy system, which will be maintained for generations to come,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan’s work has helped track changes experienced at the Channel Islands. “We’ve documented new invasive species, we’ve tracked the decline of some abalone species, we’ve contributed to countless research projects. This data helps inform fellow scientists and policymakers,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGRIKzqTK-0/?img_index=4\">he wrote in his Instagram post\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan hopes that the parks are able to restore the staff shortage “to allow the American people to fully enjoy these beautiful and amazing resources that we have. They are meant for everybody to enjoy,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do it because we love it. We’re passionate about the mission of the park service.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Planning to visit? Set your expectations\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In recent years, staff shortages at national parks — albeit on a much larger scale than these recent layoffs — have had big impacts on visitors. During the 2018 government shutdown that saw \u003ca href=\"https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/updated-impacts-of-the-trump-shutdown-\">80% of NPS employees furloughed\u003c/a>, fewer emergency and law enforcement personnel were left to police the parks or rescue injured guests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the recent layoffs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/yosemite-reservations-trump-20145111.php\">Yosemite National Park has delayed its summer campground reservations\u003c/a>. These reservations were implemented to better manage crowds and visitor expectations for the millions of summer visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beth Pratt, California regional executive director at the National Wildlife Federation, said this delay could lead to overcrowding, damage to wildlife, and strain on park infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reservations are usually open five months in advance, and experts worry that this delay may be “too close to the summer season to adequately plan for the park’s annual crush of visitors to avoid complications for both visitors and park infrastructure,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/02/yosemite-delay-summer-campground-reservation-sales-amid-staffing-crisis\">wrote Justin Housman on National Parks Traveler\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visitors should check \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm\">Yosemite’s website\u003c/a> for the latest on camping and reservations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neal Desai, Pacific regional director at the National Parks Conservation Association, NPCA — an independent, nonpartisan organization advocating for the NPS — said these recent park layoffs will impact the visitor experience in many ways, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Traffic into some parks will be longer than usual.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Park staff will pull back camping reservations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Parking will be harder to find due to larger crowds and less staff to manage them.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Trash may be overflowing from trash cans and dumpsters due to a lack of a cleanup crew.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bathrooms and trails in certain parks will be unmaintained.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Guided tours and ranger programs for kids may also be closed or have reduced hours.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>With layoffs impacting search and rescue staff as well as park EMTs, visitors should also plan ahead in case an emergency arises during their national park visit:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Be aware of weather alerts and warnings — and take extra caution at parks like Death Valley, where temperatures can rise to the hundreds in the summer. Prepare to cancel plans if weather conditions aren’t in your favor.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bring your own emergency kit that includes medicine, first aid supplies, food, water and other essentials. This list by NPS provides an overview of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm\">10 essentials in an emergency kit\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Be prepared to “self-rescue.” Wild told the \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/20/yosemite-national-park-staff-cuts/\">SF Standard\u003c/a> that visitors should be prepared to treat a national park “like a wilderness area and manage your own emergency.”\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Take extra caution when hiking more difficult terrain in parks, in the knowledge that if search and rescue roles have been cut in that park you’re visiting, you may have to manage a possible emergency situation on your own.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Desai encourages future visitors to set expectations before visiting a national park, understanding that the experience may not be what they were necessarily expecting due to park staff layoffs. “People have these expectations of what a visit to a national park should be. And they should expect to be disappointed if things [like staff shortages] don’t turn around,” he said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Desai also advises future visitors to proactively watch for updates from the park’s official websites and NPCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jonathan Farrington, CEO of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.yosemite.com/\">Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau\u003c/a>, urged visitors not to cancel their plans but to be mindful of the park’s limitations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If a family member asked me if they should come to Yosemite this year, I would absolutely say yes,” said Farrington in an email to KQED. But he also urged people to “visit responsibly,” recommending that tourists:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Plan their stay in advance.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arrive early.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Avoid peak traffic areas and promontories “between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.”\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As the federal cuts continue to ripple through the park service, Desai encouraged visitors to show appreciation for the remaining park staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are folks who have devoted their lives to helping people create lifetime memories in these special places,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And so, if you’re visiting a park and you see a park ranger, give them thanks and words of encouragement — because they deserve it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>NPS cuts deemed ‘unstrategic’ and ‘bad politics’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>From \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGIfyW3NUdE/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">park rangers\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/olakthepolak/\">custodial roles\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGLxMKbyKwq/\">locksmiths\u003c/a> and rescue officers, many former NPS employees like Channel Islands National Park’s Chan have taken to social media to share their stories and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGMT7C1SgoU/\">ways people can help America’s national parks\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These stories that are coming out are reminding people of the value of these types of jobs and the importance of the national park system,” Desai said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A poll conducted before Trump’s inauguration shows that \u003ca href=\"https://www.westword.com/news/even-maga-voters-oppose-cuts-national-parks-forest-services-23648871\">the majority of Americans approve of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service’s performance\u003c/a> across political party lines, with even Republicans identifying as “MAGA” overwhelmingly opposing cuts to these agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the NPCA, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npca.org/articles/6911-lost-jobs-broken-hearts-and-harms-to-national-parks\">NPS funding accounts for less than one-fifteenth of one percent of the federal budget\u003c/a>. Yet, in 2023, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-parks-contributed-record-high-%2455-6-billion-to-u-s-economy-supported-415-000-jobs-in-2023.htm\">national parks contributed $55.6 billion to the economy\u003c/a> and supported 415,000 jobs in nearby communities. That same year, 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in gateway towns, highlighting the financial ripple effect of park operations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Desai called the cuts “unstrategic” and “bad politics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our national parks are loved by all Americans across the political spectrum. They’re one of the few nonpartisan issues we see in our nation,” he said. “And they happen to be equally owned by every single person … attacking this institution is bad politics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from KQED’s Gilare Zada.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Praying mantises, barnacles, newts and earthworms have some of the strangest love lives.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>We get it, dating is hard. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From meeting the right special someone, to getting to know them, to avoiding imminent death. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bizarre romantic lives of these four tiny creatures sometimes end in strange and tragic ways. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Especially for the praying mantis. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to hooking up, a male mantis has good reason to fear commitment.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Praying Mantis Love is Waaay Weirder Than You Think\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This mantis is at the top of her game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All summer, she’s been bulking up on grasshoppers and flies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re called bordered mantises. Ambush hunters, cloaked by camouflage – some green and some brown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And check out those forelimbs. They’re lined with sharp spikes – almost like a couple extra sets of jaws to grab her prey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve served her well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But summer is coming to an end here in California’s Owens Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The one thing left for them to do is start the next generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She sends out a chemical signal – an alluring cocktail of pheromones – into the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This guy picks up the message.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s way, way smaller than she is, simply outclassed when it comes to strength and deadliness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He makes his move, to pass on his genes …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uh …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s one way to go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And he’s not the only male to meet his end this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So why would praying mantises do this – eat their own kind at a rather intimate moment? Seems like they wouldn’t last long as a species.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, it takes a ton of energy for females to produce their eggs, about a hundred of them developing inside her. She’ll lay them in a foamy cluster like this called an ootheca.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So that male is fueling the survival of his species, nutritionally speaking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they hatch in the spring, there will be plenty more mantises to replace this one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And these bordered mantises weren’t going to live much longer anyway. They can’t survive the cold autumn nights. So males might as well take a shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aww … This time it worked out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He delivers a packet of sperm to fertilize her eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But each time, it’s a serious gamble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, that didn’t go so well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But wait, look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s been decapitated, but his body is still moving, like it’s on autopilot – kind of a zombie mating machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s being controlled by nerves in the mantis’ abdomen and can still get the job done. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, males who successfully mate and get eaten in the process may father more eggs than those who get away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, while it may not really seem that way, this guy may be the ultimate winner in the primal quest to pass on his genes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles might look like jagged little rocks at low tide. But they’re surprisingly well-equipped when it comes to finding a date.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Barnacles Go To Unbelievable Lengths To Hook Up\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Finding a date is hard enough in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s especially tricky when you’re stuck to a rock in the middle of the bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, acorn barnacles don’t get discouraged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These crusty little animals actually have a pretty wild sex life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At low tide each one is sealed up inside its own miniature fortress. shielded by a ring of armored plates. The two central plates press together to form a water-tight seal so they don’t dry out in the open air. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re ready and waiting for the tide to rise so they can get down to business. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But first they need to freshen up a bit. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The barnacle unfurls eight pairs of delicate feathery legs called cirri, which they use to absorb oxygen from the water. The legs filter out plankton and debris churned up by the waves, bringing the catch inside to the mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They may not look like it from the outside, but beneath their shell it’s easier to see that barnacles are crustaceans related to crabs and shrimp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a nice meal, it’s ready for some action. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The little barnacle lets loose the longest penis of any animal – relative to its body size of course – stretching up to eight times the length of the barnacle itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this penis has skills. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can taste and smell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the tip can feel around, probing to see which neighbors have ripe eggs inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it finds what it’s looking for the barnacle delivers sperm to fertilize the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles aren’t exactly prudes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pretty much everyone is fair play. Because they’re all hermaphrodites, simultaneously male and female.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s one-on-one, sometimes more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles are nurturing parents, too. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They hold on to their fertilized eggs and protect them until they hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These cuties are their baby larvae called nauplii. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the young barnacles’ chance for adventure. They roam the sea searching for food and growing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If they survive long enough the barnacle larvae mature into cyprids. At this stage the barnacle doesn’t eat. The cyprid’s only mission is to find the ideal spot to glom onto before it starves. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having survived the trials of youth, the barnacle settles in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now it’s time to get to know the neighbors. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How far would you go for love? \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California newts make an epic journey back to the pond where they were born. Check it out. \u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Newt Sex: Buff Males! Writhing Females! Cannibalism!\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Life is struggle. Sex. Death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true across nature. It’s especially true for a newt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the time, California newts live quiet, hidden lives in the forest. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But every winter – and newts can live for 20 years – they experience an uncontrollable urge. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s called water drive. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They leave the safety of their burrows to go mate. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They begin a treacherous odyssey, a migration back to the pond in which they were born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It begins with a hormone called prolactin, the same one that helps women produce breast milk. In newts, prolactin sparks a need to become aquatic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water could be miles away, like three miles. That’s the equivalent of 36 miles for you and me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists don’t know for sure, but some think newts use their sense of smell to help guide them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they only have one real defense against snakes hiding in the brush: their skin. It’s covered in a poison strong enough to kill a person, if you ate one. Newts’ yellow eyes and belly tell predators to stay away. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But poison isn’t always enough to protect them. Many never make it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As they move toward water, newts’ skin starts to lose its bumps and becomes smooth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their long tails flatten into fins. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their amphibian bodies transform from terrestrial to aquatic to prepare for a mating frenzy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The male newt bulks up. It grows thick pads on its feet, perfect for clamping onto a female. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The word is “amplexus,” Latin for “embrace,” which is one word for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newts can stay like this for hours, or days. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The result: egg clusters that females lay in the pond. So many eggs that newts sometimes eat a few for extra protein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ones that survive will grow into larvae and stay in the water for several months, transforming into adults. In the fall, they’ll leave the pond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And then, if they’re lucky, they’ll come back here, again, and again, and again. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or at least, they’ll try.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Earthworm Love Is Cuddly … and Complicated\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Earthworm love. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s cuddly … and complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From the start, the earthworm is built for romance, with four or five pairs of hearts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a match, though, that’s a challenge for these mostly solitary animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They go out looking when they’re a few months to a year old, and they’ve grown this fleshy, saddle-shaped patch, called a clitellum. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re now mature enough to get down to business. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tube-shaped invertebrate seeks mate to share loamy soil and good times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The earthworm follows tastes and smells through dirt or leaf litter to find its valentine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It crawls around by anchoring its body with these bristles called setae … then pushing forward with its muscles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the way, it fuels up on bacteria and tiny fungi in the soil and leaves, sucking them in with its mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Such a luscious … lip?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every earthworm has some non-negotiables: Must breathe through iridescent skin. Must want kids. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But male or female is not one of them. All earthworms are both. They’re hermaphrodites, which automatically doubles their chances of finding a mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they do, they waste no time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Side by side, they surround each other with rings of slime they exude from their skin, bodies pointing in opposite directions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they embrace with these flaps on their clitella.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They can canoodle like this for an hour, swapping sperm. It travels outside their bodies, here, where they press up against each other, and flows between these segments into storage sacs inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But their tender act has a dark side. As they do the deed, the earthworms stab each other with their pointy setae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those wounds mean the injured lovers won’t be hooking up with others anytime soon. Jealous much?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After they’ve parted ways, each earthworm produces a sheath with its clitellum and shimmies it down its tubular body. The protein-rich ring moves over tiny holes where it gathers eggs and some of the collected sperm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, it slips right off the worm and becomes a cocoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baby worms flourish inside, growing beating hearts that one day they’ll give to their special someone.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Especially for the praying mantis. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to hooking up, a male mantis has good reason to fear commitment.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Praying Mantis Love is Waaay Weirder Than You Think\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This mantis is at the top of her game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All summer, she’s been bulking up on grasshoppers and flies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re called bordered mantises. Ambush hunters, cloaked by camouflage – some green and some brown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And check out those forelimbs. They’re lined with sharp spikes – almost like a couple extra sets of jaws to grab her prey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve served her well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But summer is coming to an end here in California’s Owens Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The one thing left for them to do is start the next generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She sends out a chemical signal – an alluring cocktail of pheromones – into the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This guy picks up the message.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s way, way smaller than she is, simply outclassed when it comes to strength and deadliness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He makes his move, to pass on his genes …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uh …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s one way to go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And he’s not the only male to meet his end this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So why would praying mantises do this – eat their own kind at a rather intimate moment? Seems like they wouldn’t last long as a species.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, it takes a ton of energy for females to produce their eggs, about a hundred of them developing inside her. She’ll lay them in a foamy cluster like this called an ootheca.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So that male is fueling the survival of his species, nutritionally speaking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they hatch in the spring, there will be plenty more mantises to replace this one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And these bordered mantises weren’t going to live much longer anyway. They can’t survive the cold autumn nights. So males might as well take a shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aww … This time it worked out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He delivers a packet of sperm to fertilize her eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But each time, it’s a serious gamble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, that didn’t go so well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But wait, look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s been decapitated, but his body is still moving, like it’s on autopilot – kind of a zombie mating machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s being controlled by nerves in the mantis’ abdomen and can still get the job done. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, males who successfully mate and get eaten in the process may father more eggs than those who get away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, while it may not really seem that way, this guy may be the ultimate winner in the primal quest to pass on his genes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles might look like jagged little rocks at low tide. But they’re surprisingly well-equipped when it comes to finding a date.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Barnacles Go To Unbelievable Lengths To Hook Up\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Finding a date is hard enough in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s especially tricky when you’re stuck to a rock in the middle of the bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, acorn barnacles don’t get discouraged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These crusty little animals actually have a pretty wild sex life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At low tide each one is sealed up inside its own miniature fortress. shielded by a ring of armored plates. The two central plates press together to form a water-tight seal so they don’t dry out in the open air. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re ready and waiting for the tide to rise so they can get down to business. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But first they need to freshen up a bit. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The barnacle unfurls eight pairs of delicate feathery legs called cirri, which they use to absorb oxygen from the water. The legs filter out plankton and debris churned up by the waves, bringing the catch inside to the mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They may not look like it from the outside, but beneath their shell it’s easier to see that barnacles are crustaceans related to crabs and shrimp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a nice meal, it’s ready for some action. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The little barnacle lets loose the longest penis of any animal – relative to its body size of course – stretching up to eight times the length of the barnacle itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this penis has skills. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can taste and smell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the tip can feel around, probing to see which neighbors have ripe eggs inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it finds what it’s looking for the barnacle delivers sperm to fertilize the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles aren’t exactly prudes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pretty much everyone is fair play. Because they’re all hermaphrodites, simultaneously male and female.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s one-on-one, sometimes more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles are nurturing parents, too. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They hold on to their fertilized eggs and protect them until they hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These cuties are their baby larvae called nauplii. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the young barnacles’ chance for adventure. They roam the sea searching for food and growing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If they survive long enough the barnacle larvae mature into cyprids. At this stage the barnacle doesn’t eat. The cyprid’s only mission is to find the ideal spot to glom onto before it starves. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having survived the trials of youth, the barnacle settles in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now it’s time to get to know the neighbors. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How far would you go for love? \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California newts make an epic journey back to the pond where they were born. Check it out. \u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Newt Sex: Buff Males! Writhing Females! Cannibalism!\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Life is struggle. Sex. Death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true across nature. It’s especially true for a newt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the time, California newts live quiet, hidden lives in the forest. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But every winter – and newts can live for 20 years – they experience an uncontrollable urge. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s called water drive. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They leave the safety of their burrows to go mate. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They begin a treacherous odyssey, a migration back to the pond in which they were born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It begins with a hormone called prolactin, the same one that helps women produce breast milk. In newts, prolactin sparks a need to become aquatic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water could be miles away, like three miles. That’s the equivalent of 36 miles for you and me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists don’t know for sure, but some think newts use their sense of smell to help guide them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they only have one real defense against snakes hiding in the brush: their skin. It’s covered in a poison strong enough to kill a person, if you ate one. Newts’ yellow eyes and belly tell predators to stay away. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But poison isn’t always enough to protect them. Many never make it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As they move toward water, newts’ skin starts to lose its bumps and becomes smooth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their long tails flatten into fins. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their amphibian bodies transform from terrestrial to aquatic to prepare for a mating frenzy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The male newt bulks up. It grows thick pads on its feet, perfect for clamping onto a female. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The word is “amplexus,” Latin for “embrace,” which is one word for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newts can stay like this for hours, or days. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The result: egg clusters that females lay in the pond. So many eggs that newts sometimes eat a few for extra protein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ones that survive will grow into larvae and stay in the water for several months, transforming into adults. In the fall, they’ll leave the pond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And then, if they’re lucky, they’ll come back here, again, and again, and again. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or at least, they’ll try.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Earthworm Love Is Cuddly … and Complicated\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Earthworm love. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s cuddly … and complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From the start, the earthworm is built for romance, with four or five pairs of hearts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a match, though, that’s a challenge for these mostly solitary animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They go out looking when they’re a few months to a year old, and they’ve grown this fleshy, saddle-shaped patch, called a clitellum. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re now mature enough to get down to business. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tube-shaped invertebrate seeks mate to share loamy soil and good times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The earthworm follows tastes and smells through dirt or leaf litter to find its valentine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It crawls around by anchoring its body with these bristles called setae … then pushing forward with its muscles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the way, it fuels up on bacteria and tiny fungi in the soil and leaves, sucking them in with its mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Such a luscious … lip?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every earthworm has some non-negotiables: Must breathe through iridescent skin. Must want kids. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But male or female is not one of them. All earthworms are both. They’re hermaphrodites, which automatically doubles their chances of finding a mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they do, they waste no time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Side by side, they surround each other with rings of slime they exude from their skin, bodies pointing in opposite directions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they embrace with these flaps on their clitella.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They can canoodle like this for an hour, swapping sperm. It travels outside their bodies, here, where they press up against each other, and flows between these segments into storage sacs inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But their tender act has a dark side. As they do the deed, the earthworms stab each other with their pointy setae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those wounds mean the injured lovers won’t be hooking up with others anytime soon. Jealous much?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After they’ve parted ways, each earthworm produces a sheath with its clitellum and shimmies it down its tubular body. The protein-rich ring moves over tiny holes where it gathers eggs and some of the collected sperm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, it slips right off the worm and becomes a cocoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12002735/mapa-apagones-actuales-de-pge-en-el-norte-de-california\">Leer en español\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mouse over or click points on the map below to see all of PG&E’s current power outages, planned or otherwise, along with the number of customers impacted, the cause (if listed), and estimated time of restoration. Zoom in on each location to see a rough approximation of power outage areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click the layers button at the top left of the map to see total number of outages per county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All data \u003ca href=\"https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/map/\">comes from PG&E\u003c/a>, via the \u003ca href=\"https://gis.data.ca.gov/datasets/CalEMA::power-outage-incidents/about\">California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)\u003c/a>, and is updated every 15 minutes. Any planned safety outages, known as Public Safety Power Outages (PSPS), will be specifically labeled on the map when they occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The map also includes current power outage incidents reported by the state’s other major utilities, including Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The map does not include smaller, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11747148/map-public-power-providers-in-california\">locally owned utilities\u003c/a> such as those in Palo Alto and Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" align=\"center\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://kqedsf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=055f514ed0a5416886cc855ddae55762\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:0\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12002735/mapa-apagones-actuales-de-pge-en-el-norte-de-california\">Leer en español\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mouse over or click points on the map below to see all of PG&E’s current power outages, planned or otherwise, along with the number of customers impacted, the cause (if listed), and estimated time of restoration. Zoom in on each location to see a rough approximation of power outage areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click the layers button at the top left of the map to see total number of outages per county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All data \u003ca href=\"https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/map/\">comes from PG&E\u003c/a>, via the \u003ca href=\"https://gis.data.ca.gov/datasets/CalEMA::power-outage-incidents/about\">California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)\u003c/a>, and is updated every 15 minutes. Any planned safety outages, known as Public Safety Power Outages (PSPS), will be specifically labeled on the map when they occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The map also includes current power outage incidents reported by the state’s other major utilities, including Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The map does not include smaller, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11747148/map-public-power-providers-in-california\">locally owned utilities\u003c/a> such as those in Palo Alto and Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" align=\"center\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://kqedsf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=055f514ed0a5416886cc855ddae55762\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:0\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "SF Dumps Millions of Gallons of Sewage During Big Storms. Surfers Say That Needs to Stop",
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"content": "\u003cp>Nina Atkind loves surfing, but she’s also a detective of sorts. During storms — like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025572/storm-stalls-over-bay-area-raising-risk-flooding-potential-tornado-warning\">massive systems that recently rocked the Bay Area\u003c/a> — she cloaks herself in an apple-red rain jacket and pulls up her tan gaiters before wading out into the swirling water at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During one recent storm in mid-December, Atkind dips a glass jar into the ocean as angry waves crash against the beach, frothy brown rollers pushing up towards the dunes at Vicente Street. The jar fills with the cloudy water, and she screws on a black cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It looks yucky with a bunch of debris,” Atkind said. “I see microplastic in there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atkind manages the Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco chapter and delivers the water to a lab where it will be analyzed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re testing for poop in the water,” Atkind said. “The water is everything. It’s so important that those who want to go in the water can and not get sick from it. You don’t want to get sick from doing what you love.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996159\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996159 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A man stands at a table, next to a seated man and woman, with a blue banner that says 'Surfrider Foundation' on the wall behind him.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drew Madsen (right), lead of the Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer water quality testing group, works with Justin James and Nina Atkind at the Surfrider Foundation’s lab in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>An overwhelmed system\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Surfrider publishes the results to alert local surfers of pollution problems. The reporting also serves as a backstop to official tests conducted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which found that the microorganism enterococcus, a bacteria indicating fecal matter, was\u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\"> above the state’s posting threshold\u003c/a> in coastal waters on Dec. 14, 2024 — making water recreation that day inadvisable. Those levels subsided the following day, the agency noted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atmospheric rivers almost guarantee one thing for San Francisco: millions of gallons of stormwater and raw sewage will get poured into the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, sewage and stormwater flow through the same pipes as part of a combined system. The problem is that large enough storms cause the system to overflow, which the city said typically happens less than 10 times a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at her car, Atkind wipes the rain off her face before pulling her phone out to check if sewage water is spewing into waterways in any other spots. The SFPUC and the city’s Department of Public Health sample from more than 20 sites each week and monitor discharges from the sewer during storms. The results are posted on \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">a map on its website\u003c/a> — if sewage is discharged at any site, it’s indicated with a blinking triangle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996158\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996158 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An overflow pipe near the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, also known as the Oceanside Treatment Plant, at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Feb. 10, 2025. Erosion is damaging the overflow pipes along Ocean Beach. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Every single spot on the map is now flashing red with the little triangle,” Atkind said. “It’s definitely alarming to see this happen so many times per year, especially on the east side where the water doesn’t move as much as it does on the west side.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Environmental groups and the state of California argue that the city is discharging too frequently and at such high volumes that it taints the waterways with bacteria that can cause illness if people come into contact with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When their system is operating properly, it’s a very well-working system,” said Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director of San Francisco Baykeeper. “The problem is when we have heavy rains, their system is not built to hold all those flows. That means the system gets overwhelmed, creating contaminated spots that are harmful for public access.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996153\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1075px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996153 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png\" alt=\"A map of SF showing sewage/wastewater discharge locations.\" width=\"1075\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png 1075w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-800x554.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-1020x706.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-160x111.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-768x532.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1075px) 100vw, 1075px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A screenshot of an \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">SFPUC map\u003c/a> from Feb. 5, 2025, showing stormwater discharges that happened over the previous 72 hours. \u003ccite>(SFPUC)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ryan Seelbach, who has surfed Ocean Beach for three decades, said he actively avoids the beach during and right after storms to prevent himself from getting sick, even though the curling waves he sees from the shore taunt him. He said surfers often develop cold symptoms and ear infections after swimming in the polluted water.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘It gets funky’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“Where the water comes out during storm events, it gets funky and has a musty smell,” he said, wrinkling his nose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seelbach wants San Francisco to reduce the number of discharges so he can enjoy the more than 3-mile stretch of water that surfers worldwide flock to in the winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think every human deserves to be able to access and use a clean ocean,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s not just surfers upset about water quality. The federal Environmental Protection Agency and California State Water Resources Control Board filed a civil complaint in federal court against San Francisco last May, \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ca/city-and-county-san-francisco-complaint\">alleging numerous Clean Water Act violations\u003c/a> over the last decade. The agencies are seeking “financial penalties and improvements to remedy San Francisco’s repeated and widespread failures” in operating its sewer systems and water treatment plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit claims that since 2016, the city has annually discharged more than 1.8 billion gallons of untreated sewage into local waterways. That tainted water can contain pathogens like E. coli and cause severe illness if ingested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A related but separate lawsuit recently reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in October. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-753.html\">San Francisco sued the federal EPA\u003c/a>, claiming its discharge regulations were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1993067/amid-long-and-costly-legal-battles-sf-urged-to-update-wastewater-system-fix-sewage-discharges\">too vague\u003c/a> — an argument that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected. The Supreme Court could issue its decision by June.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a letter to the city last September, environmentalists urged San Francisco to drop the case. They accused the city of trying to dismantle the Clean Water Act, which they argued would “permanently stain the city’s reputation as a protector of the public and the environment” if their effort was successful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996157\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996157 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A surfer in a full-body wetsuit surfs a wave in the ocean.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A surfer catches a wave at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Feb. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Wastewater experts believe a decision in San Francisco’s favor could have huge repercussions beyond the city’s borders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The folks who work for the city of San Francisco would tell you they’re just as committed to the environment as they ever were,” said David Sedlak, a water quality expert and professor of environmental engineering at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But certainly to the outside world, if the case ends up overturning a lot of the approaches that are used now to protect our waters, people will wonder about San Francisco’s role in making that happen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"related coverage\" tag=\"wastewater\"]San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu pushed back on the criticism, arguing the permits don’t limit the number of discharges that can take place in a year. “This case was never about challenging or seeking any change to the Clean Water Act, nor disputing EPA’s ability to enforce environmental protections,” Chiu said in a statement. “I am confident we made the right choice to protect San Franciscans.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC argues that the exact amount of sewage that ends up in waterways varies based on each storm, and some of the pollution could come from other sources. Officials maintain that only a small percentage — less than 10% — of water discharged during storms is partially treated sewage. Most of the year, the system dispenses clean water, they say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I liken it to drinking a martini,” said Joel Prather, the SFPUC’s assistant general manager for wastewater enterprise. “I’m drinking the mixture of whatever alcohol I choose and the vermouth. And so, by the same token, there is a mix in there, but it’s designed to settle the solids out. And as it’s being discharged, it is primarily stormwater being discharged.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘The problem has definitely grown worse’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During last week’s storms, at least 20 sites discharged polluted water near Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, the Financial District, Mission Creek and Hunters Point, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">SFPUC’s beach water quality map\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SF Baykeeper captured images of dirty water containing fecal matter and trash overflowing into Mission Creek on Feb. 4.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Choksi-Chugh said these areas are “sacrifice zones” where the city has nowhere else to release polluted water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The problem has definitely grown worse,” she said. “They’re not allowed to be discharging this much bacteria and pollution into the bay, yet they are doing it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The issue is deepening because storms are often more intense than they used to be and can easily overwhelm the system first established more than a century ago. Scientists predict storms could become up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094722000275\">37% wetter by the end of the century\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are seeing significant storms, and we’re not alone here; the entire world is seeing stronger storms and having to deal with them,” Prather said. “We’re a combined system, so it’s designed to discharge before it floods on the street. But these large storms are overcoming everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Entirely revamping the city’s aging sewage and stormwater infrastructure would cost San Francisco ratepayers well over $10 billion on the bayside alone, which “would require major increases to wastewater bills,” according to the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996155\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996155 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drew Madsen, the head of Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-run water quality testing program, holds water samples taken from India Basin at the Surfrider Foundation’s lab in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The samples are mixed with a reagent, which gives them a yellow color and reacts with bacteria, causing the samples to glow under UV light. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chicago significantly reduced its discharges by digging giant tunnels underground to catch stormwater in the days after a storm. However, Prather said digging under densely populated San Francisco is unrealistic and would not pencil out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re talking tens of billions of dollars. You’re also talking about ripping up every street in San Francisco and putting new plumbing in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has invested $2 billion to reduce discharges by 80% of the 7.6 billion gallons it released annually half a century ago, Prather said. The agency has planned for nearly $4.9 billion in wastewater projects in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpuc.gov/sites/default/files/about-us/policies-reports/10yrCapBudget_FY2023-24_FY2032-33.pdf\">10-year capital plan\u003c/a>, approved in 2023, including sewer system improvements, treatment facility updates and a Treasure Island treatment plant.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Best we can with the resources we have’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, it’s just doing the best we can with the resources we have right now to be prepared for those storms,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During regular rain storms, the city collects rainwater at its two plants. Collection boxes can hold 200 million gallons of water before spilling. The agency aims to capture a billion gallons of stormwater annually using green infrastructure by 2050.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Rainwater or street runoff hits the green infrastructure and percolates into the ground before going on to either groundwater or our treatment facilities,” Prather said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also offers a grant program for \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpuc.gov/programs/grants/floodwater-management-grant-program\">residents experiencing flooding\u003c/a> on their properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not sitting on our hands doing nothing,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sedlak, of UC Berkeley, said San Francisco needs to prioritize its combined sewer overflow problem. “At this point, I’m not seeing the combined sewer overflow challenge as their highest priority,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He added that storms would only worsen with human-caused climate change, making hydroclimate whiplash — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995420/climate-scientists-warn-of-growing-whiplash-effect-on-weather-patterns\">fast swings between alarmingly wet and seriously dry weather\u003c/a> — more intense, and said San Francisco would have to make some sort of compromise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The real question for San Franciscans and people who enjoy the bay is what are we willing to pay to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows?” he said. “Is it just the people who live in San Francisco who pay the water and sewer bills there? Or is it something the whole state is interested in taking care of?”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Atmospheric rivers almost guarantee that San Francisco, with its sewage system, will dump millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. That’s a big deal for surfers who love the giant waves that the storms create.",
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"title": "SF Dumps Millions of Gallons of Sewage During Big Storms. Surfers Say That Needs to Stop | KQED",
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"headline": "SF Dumps Millions of Gallons of Sewage During Big Storms. Surfers Say That Needs to Stop",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Nina Atkind loves surfing, but she’s also a detective of sorts. During storms — like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025572/storm-stalls-over-bay-area-raising-risk-flooding-potential-tornado-warning\">massive systems that recently rocked the Bay Area\u003c/a> — she cloaks herself in an apple-red rain jacket and pulls up her tan gaiters before wading out into the swirling water at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During one recent storm in mid-December, Atkind dips a glass jar into the ocean as angry waves crash against the beach, frothy brown rollers pushing up towards the dunes at Vicente Street. The jar fills with the cloudy water, and she screws on a black cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It looks yucky with a bunch of debris,” Atkind said. “I see microplastic in there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atkind manages the Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco chapter and delivers the water to a lab where it will be analyzed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re testing for poop in the water,” Atkind said. “The water is everything. It’s so important that those who want to go in the water can and not get sick from it. You don’t want to get sick from doing what you love.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996159\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996159 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A man stands at a table, next to a seated man and woman, with a blue banner that says 'Surfrider Foundation' on the wall behind him.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-18-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drew Madsen (right), lead of the Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer water quality testing group, works with Justin James and Nina Atkind at the Surfrider Foundation’s lab in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>An overwhelmed system\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Surfrider publishes the results to alert local surfers of pollution problems. The reporting also serves as a backstop to official tests conducted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which found that the microorganism enterococcus, a bacteria indicating fecal matter, was\u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\"> above the state’s posting threshold\u003c/a> in coastal waters on Dec. 14, 2024 — making water recreation that day inadvisable. Those levels subsided the following day, the agency noted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atmospheric rivers almost guarantee one thing for San Francisco: millions of gallons of stormwater and raw sewage will get poured into the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, sewage and stormwater flow through the same pipes as part of a combined system. The problem is that large enough storms cause the system to overflow, which the city said typically happens less than 10 times a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at her car, Atkind wipes the rain off her face before pulling her phone out to check if sewage water is spewing into waterways in any other spots. The SFPUC and the city’s Department of Public Health sample from more than 20 sites each week and monitor discharges from the sewer during storms. The results are posted on \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">a map on its website\u003c/a> — if sewage is discharged at any site, it’s indicated with a blinking triangle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996158\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996158 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-32-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An overflow pipe near the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, also known as the Oceanside Treatment Plant, at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Feb. 10, 2025. Erosion is damaging the overflow pipes along Ocean Beach. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Every single spot on the map is now flashing red with the little triangle,” Atkind said. “It’s definitely alarming to see this happen so many times per year, especially on the east side where the water doesn’t move as much as it does on the west side.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Environmental groups and the state of California argue that the city is discharging too frequently and at such high volumes that it taints the waterways with bacteria that can cause illness if people come into contact with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When their system is operating properly, it’s a very well-working system,” said Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director of San Francisco Baykeeper. “The problem is when we have heavy rains, their system is not built to hold all those flows. That means the system gets overwhelmed, creating contaminated spots that are harmful for public access.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996153\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1075px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996153 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png\" alt=\"A map of SF showing sewage/wastewater discharge locations.\" width=\"1075\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges.png 1075w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-800x554.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-1020x706.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-160x111.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/Discharges-768x532.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1075px) 100vw, 1075px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A screenshot of an \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">SFPUC map\u003c/a> from Feb. 5, 2025, showing stormwater discharges that happened over the previous 72 hours. \u003ccite>(SFPUC)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ryan Seelbach, who has surfed Ocean Beach for three decades, said he actively avoids the beach during and right after storms to prevent himself from getting sick, even though the curling waves he sees from the shore taunt him. He said surfers often develop cold symptoms and ear infections after swimming in the polluted water.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘It gets funky’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“Where the water comes out during storm events, it gets funky and has a musty smell,” he said, wrinkling his nose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seelbach wants San Francisco to reduce the number of discharges so he can enjoy the more than 3-mile stretch of water that surfers worldwide flock to in the winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think every human deserves to be able to access and use a clean ocean,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s not just surfers upset about water quality. The federal Environmental Protection Agency and California State Water Resources Control Board filed a civil complaint in federal court against San Francisco last May, \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ca/city-and-county-san-francisco-complaint\">alleging numerous Clean Water Act violations\u003c/a> over the last decade. The agencies are seeking “financial penalties and improvements to remedy San Francisco’s repeated and widespread failures” in operating its sewer systems and water treatment plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit claims that since 2016, the city has annually discharged more than 1.8 billion gallons of untreated sewage into local waterways. That tainted water can contain pathogens like E. coli and cause severe illness if ingested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A related but separate lawsuit recently reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in October. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-753.html\">San Francisco sued the federal EPA\u003c/a>, claiming its discharge regulations were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1993067/amid-long-and-costly-legal-battles-sf-urged-to-update-wastewater-system-fix-sewage-discharges\">too vague\u003c/a> — an argument that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected. The Supreme Court could issue its decision by June.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a letter to the city last September, environmentalists urged San Francisco to drop the case. They accused the city of trying to dismantle the Clean Water Act, which they argued would “permanently stain the city’s reputation as a protector of the public and the environment” if their effort was successful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996157\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996157 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A surfer in a full-body wetsuit surfs a wave in the ocean.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250210-SurferSewage-16-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A surfer catches a wave at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Feb. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Wastewater experts believe a decision in San Francisco’s favor could have huge repercussions beyond the city’s borders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The folks who work for the city of San Francisco would tell you they’re just as committed to the environment as they ever were,” said David Sedlak, a water quality expert and professor of environmental engineering at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But certainly to the outside world, if the case ends up overturning a lot of the approaches that are used now to protect our waters, people will wonder about San Francisco’s role in making that happen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu pushed back on the criticism, arguing the permits don’t limit the number of discharges that can take place in a year. “This case was never about challenging or seeking any change to the Clean Water Act, nor disputing EPA’s ability to enforce environmental protections,” Chiu said in a statement. “I am confident we made the right choice to protect San Franciscans.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPUC argues that the exact amount of sewage that ends up in waterways varies based on each storm, and some of the pollution could come from other sources. Officials maintain that only a small percentage — less than 10% — of water discharged during storms is partially treated sewage. Most of the year, the system dispenses clean water, they say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I liken it to drinking a martini,” said Joel Prather, the SFPUC’s assistant general manager for wastewater enterprise. “I’m drinking the mixture of whatever alcohol I choose and the vermouth. And so, by the same token, there is a mix in there, but it’s designed to settle the solids out. And as it’s being discharged, it is primarily stormwater being discharged.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘The problem has definitely grown worse’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During last week’s storms, at least 20 sites discharged polluted water near Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, the Financial District, Mission Creek and Hunters Point, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://webapps.sfpuc.org/sapps/beachesandbay.html\">SFPUC’s beach water quality map\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SF Baykeeper captured images of dirty water containing fecal matter and trash overflowing into Mission Creek on Feb. 4.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Choksi-Chugh said these areas are “sacrifice zones” where the city has nowhere else to release polluted water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The problem has definitely grown worse,” she said. “They’re not allowed to be discharging this much bacteria and pollution into the bay, yet they are doing it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The issue is deepening because storms are often more intense than they used to be and can easily overwhelm the system first established more than a century ago. Scientists predict storms could become up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094722000275\">37% wetter by the end of the century\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are seeing significant storms, and we’re not alone here; the entire world is seeing stronger storms and having to deal with them,” Prather said. “We’re a combined system, so it’s designed to discharge before it floods on the street. But these large storms are overcoming everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Entirely revamping the city’s aging sewage and stormwater infrastructure would cost San Francisco ratepayers well over $10 billion on the bayside alone, which “would require major increases to wastewater bills,” according to the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996155\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1996155 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/250206-SurferSewage-01-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drew Madsen, the head of Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-run water quality testing program, holds water samples taken from India Basin at the Surfrider Foundation’s lab in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The samples are mixed with a reagent, which gives them a yellow color and reacts with bacteria, causing the samples to glow under UV light. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chicago significantly reduced its discharges by digging giant tunnels underground to catch stormwater in the days after a storm. However, Prather said digging under densely populated San Francisco is unrealistic and would not pencil out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re talking tens of billions of dollars. You’re also talking about ripping up every street in San Francisco and putting new plumbing in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has invested $2 billion to reduce discharges by 80% of the 7.6 billion gallons it released annually half a century ago, Prather said. The agency has planned for nearly $4.9 billion in wastewater projects in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpuc.gov/sites/default/files/about-us/policies-reports/10yrCapBudget_FY2023-24_FY2032-33.pdf\">10-year capital plan\u003c/a>, approved in 2023, including sewer system improvements, treatment facility updates and a Treasure Island treatment plant.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Best we can with the resources we have’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, it’s just doing the best we can with the resources we have right now to be prepared for those storms,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During regular rain storms, the city collects rainwater at its two plants. Collection boxes can hold 200 million gallons of water before spilling. The agency aims to capture a billion gallons of stormwater annually using green infrastructure by 2050.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Rainwater or street runoff hits the green infrastructure and percolates into the ground before going on to either groundwater or our treatment facilities,” Prather said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also offers a grant program for \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpuc.gov/programs/grants/floodwater-management-grant-program\">residents experiencing flooding\u003c/a> on their properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not sitting on our hands doing nothing,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sedlak, of UC Berkeley, said San Francisco needs to prioritize its combined sewer overflow problem. “At this point, I’m not seeing the combined sewer overflow challenge as their highest priority,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He added that storms would only worsen with human-caused climate change, making hydroclimate whiplash — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995420/climate-scientists-warn-of-growing-whiplash-effect-on-weather-patterns\">fast swings between alarmingly wet and seriously dry weather\u003c/a> — more intense, and said San Francisco would have to make some sort of compromise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The real question for San Franciscans and people who enjoy the bay is what are we willing to pay to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows?” he said. “Is it just the people who live in San Francisco who pay the water and sewer bills there? Or is it something the whole state is interested in taking care of?”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-bay-area-hikes-for-spotting-banana-slugs-newts-and-ladybugs-after-the-rain",
"title": "Top Bay Area Trails to Spot Banana Slugs, Newts & Ladybugs",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Bay Area has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026524/california-rain-return-with-one-of-years-strongest-storms-on-the-way\">drenched with rain from multiple atmospheric river storms\u003c/a> these past few weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But once we get a break from this rainy weather — \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?format=ci&glossary=1&issuedby=mtr&product=afd&site=mtr&version=1\">as the National Weather Service forecasts this weekend\u003c/a> — there’s a big upside: After rainfall is one of the best times to see colorful creepy crawlies out in nature. And right in time for Valentine’s Day, this is when they’re on the hunt for mates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for the best hiking trails in the Bay Area to hit after a wet spell to spot banana slugs, California newts and ladybugs. Just be sure to watch your step as you go.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Banana slugs on wet trails\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Banana slugs are mostly water, relying on moist environments to stay alive. In dry conditions, these striking yellow molluscs retreat to cool and shaded areas. But right after the rain, you’ll find them gliding along on wet soil in California’s damp forests — powered along by the slime produced by cells in their skin that helps them move over dirt and leaves. This slime allows banana slugs not only to retain their moisture but also to defend themselves by producing mucus that numbs the mouth and tongues of any predators trying to nibble on them. The chemicals left behind in their slime trails also allow banana slugs to more easily find each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Banana slugs are scavengers that feed on dead leaves, mushrooms and animals, but they’re also decomposers that help recycle nutrients into the forest floor. They also play a key ecological role by dispersing seeds and spores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. And while they mate all year round, they’re most active after the rain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUIAKtcCMaU\">Mating is a lengthy process\u003c/a> that sometimes results in \u003ca href=\"https://openspacetrust.org/blog/banana-slug/\">one slug biting off its mate’s reproductive organ\u003c/a> — a process scientifically known as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYr-_Mvqc9k\">apophallation\u003c/a>.” They lay eggs under logs or leaves, but they’re not attentive parents: Banana slug hatchlings must fend for themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see banana slugs in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muir Woods, Marin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Purisima Creek Redwoods, Half Moon Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHvCQSGanJg\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California newts, looking for dates\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the winter rainy season, thousands of orange-brown California newts cross Bay Area roads, migrating from burrows to mating ponds. Like banana slugs, newts need moisture to survive — especially during this mini-migration season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the breeding season, male newts go through a dramatic change. Once in the water of the mating pond, they become bulkier, their tails flatten into fins to swim better, and they develop pads on their feet to allow them to clamp onto a female newt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After mating, the newts produce clusters of eggs, which they sometimes munch on for extra protein. The eggs that survive grow into larvae and, after a few months, will leave the pond as adults — only to return when they themselves are ready to mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see California newts in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Las Trampas Regional Wilderness\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In ponds and small lakes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbaywildlife.info/species/california_newt.htm\">Get more tips on spotting newts in the wild\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m37QR_4XNY\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Ladybugs in loving clusters\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In winter, when their food source is low, ladybugs cluster together in the millions to stay warm, conserve energy and protect themselves from predators. This is also an excellent time for them to find a mate — and for you to spot them in such numbers, called “aggregations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The species more commonly found in the Bay — for example, at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park — are convergent ladybugs, one of 175 species native to California. The red color on their bodies is a defense mechanism against predators — a warning sign that they’re toxic. Over 5,000 species of ladybugs exist worldwide and come in different colors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see ladybugs in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Stream trails at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland are a reliable spot to see ladybug aggregation. Hikers have also spotted aggregations at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DE3ag9kqduW/\">Santa Cruz Mountains State Park\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you plan to see these colorful clusters, be sure to respect them by watching from a short distance. Collecting ladybugs from these aggregations is prohibited, as they might not survive their relocation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Z6xRexbIU\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "When the Bay Area weather turns to rain, there's a silver lining after: You'll be able to see these crawlers from the hiking trail.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Bay Area has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026524/california-rain-return-with-one-of-years-strongest-storms-on-the-way\">drenched with rain from multiple atmospheric river storms\u003c/a> these past few weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But once we get a break from this rainy weather — \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?format=ci&glossary=1&issuedby=mtr&product=afd&site=mtr&version=1\">as the National Weather Service forecasts this weekend\u003c/a> — there’s a big upside: After rainfall is one of the best times to see colorful creepy crawlies out in nature. And right in time for Valentine’s Day, this is when they’re on the hunt for mates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for the best hiking trails in the Bay Area to hit after a wet spell to spot banana slugs, California newts and ladybugs. Just be sure to watch your step as you go.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Banana slugs on wet trails\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Banana slugs are mostly water, relying on moist environments to stay alive. In dry conditions, these striking yellow molluscs retreat to cool and shaded areas. But right after the rain, you’ll find them gliding along on wet soil in California’s damp forests — powered along by the slime produced by cells in their skin that helps them move over dirt and leaves. This slime allows banana slugs not only to retain their moisture but also to defend themselves by producing mucus that numbs the mouth and tongues of any predators trying to nibble on them. The chemicals left behind in their slime trails also allow banana slugs to more easily find each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Banana slugs are scavengers that feed on dead leaves, mushrooms and animals, but they’re also decomposers that help recycle nutrients into the forest floor. They also play a key ecological role by dispersing seeds and spores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. And while they mate all year round, they’re most active after the rain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUIAKtcCMaU\">Mating is a lengthy process\u003c/a> that sometimes results in \u003ca href=\"https://openspacetrust.org/blog/banana-slug/\">one slug biting off its mate’s reproductive organ\u003c/a> — a process scientifically known as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYr-_Mvqc9k\">apophallation\u003c/a>.” They lay eggs under logs or leaves, but they’re not attentive parents: Banana slug hatchlings must fend for themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see banana slugs in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muir Woods, Marin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Purisima Creek Redwoods, Half Moon Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/mHvCQSGanJg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/mHvCQSGanJg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003ch2>California newts, looking for dates\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the winter rainy season, thousands of orange-brown California newts cross Bay Area roads, migrating from burrows to mating ponds. Like banana slugs, newts need moisture to survive — especially during this mini-migration season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the breeding season, male newts go through a dramatic change. Once in the water of the mating pond, they become bulkier, their tails flatten into fins to swim better, and they develop pads on their feet to allow them to clamp onto a female newt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After mating, the newts produce clusters of eggs, which they sometimes munch on for extra protein. The eggs that survive grow into larvae and, after a few months, will leave the pond as adults — only to return when they themselves are ready to mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see California newts in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunol Regional Wilderness\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Las Trampas Regional Wilderness\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In ponds and small lakes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbaywildlife.info/species/california_newt.htm\">Get more tips on spotting newts in the wild\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/5m37QR_4XNY'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/5m37QR_4XNY'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003ch2>Ladybugs in loving clusters\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In winter, when their food source is low, ladybugs cluster together in the millions to stay warm, conserve energy and protect themselves from predators. This is also an excellent time for them to find a mate — and for you to spot them in such numbers, called “aggregations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The species more commonly found in the Bay — for example, at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park — are convergent ladybugs, one of 175 species native to California. The red color on their bodies is a defense mechanism against predators — a warning sign that they’re toxic. Over 5,000 species of ladybugs exist worldwide and come in different colors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Where to see ladybugs in the Bay Area after the rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Stream trails at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland are a reliable spot to see ladybug aggregation. Hikers have also spotted aggregations at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DE3ag9kqduW/\">Santa Cruz Mountains State Park\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you plan to see these colorful clusters, be sure to respect them by watching from a short distance. Collecting ladybugs from these aggregations is prohibited, as they might not survive their relocation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/c-Z6xRexbIU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/c-Z6xRexbIU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Jeff and Jodi Moreno took turns staying awake late into the night of Tuesday, Jan. 7; their eyes cemented to the Watch Duty app on their phones, which showed real-time updates and alerts for the fast-moving Eaton Fire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The winds howled so strongly that the Morenos worried a tree might crash through the bedroom windows of their Altadena home they had just remodeled. So, their three daughters slept on makeshift beds in the living room, just in case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 2:15 a.m., the couple heard people calling over a PA system from outside, instructing them to evacuate. The family of five loaded their cars and left the home they’ve lived in for the past 19 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they turned down their street the next afternoon, no houses came into view, just the stark, vertical lines of chimney after chimney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The shock was almost too much to feel much of anything,” Jeff Moreno said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a kind of loss that’s hard to relate to unless you’ve been through it before. And given that extreme weather disasters are becoming more frequent due to climate change, a growing number of people are actually able to understand this feeling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No one asks to join the club of extreme weather survivors, but being a member makes you uniquely suited to help others once you are out of an acute crisis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996121\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg\" alt=\"A before and after picture of a small, one-story, nicely kept home, and the remains of it after it was burned down.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"990\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-800x396.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1020x505.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-160x79.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-768x380.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1536x760.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1920x950.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Moreno’s home in Altadena, California, before and after the Eaton Fire ravaged the community in January. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Moreno family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nonprofit called \u003ca href=\"https://www.extremeweathersurvivors.org/\">Extreme Weather Survivors\u003c/a> links these veteran survivors with the newest ranks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group has put together a Slack community for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/los-angeles-fires\">Los Angeles wildfire victims\u003c/a>, with sections devoted to insurance, debris removal and mental health. Doctors and scientists are involved in answering questions about smoke damage and children’s health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The more than 800 L.A. wildfire victims using the resource can also get advice from survivors of past wildfires who have walked this road before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right away from interacting with it, I was like, ‘Wow, there’s people on the other side of this,’” said Jodi Moreno, Jeff’s wife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can emotionally connect with all of our friends who are surviving this,” Jeff said. “But none of us know what the next step is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996129\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1996129\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-800x1000.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of a wife and husband and three daughters.\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-1020x1275.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jeff and Jodi Moreno (center) and their daughters. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Moreno family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While most L.A. wildfire survivors are connecting asynchronously online, which can work well in the unsteady early days after displacement, the Morenos recently connected to a former wildfire survivor in real time over Zoom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Erica Solove lost her home to Colorado’s \u003ca href=\"https://research.noaa.gov/looking-back-at-colorados-marshall-fire/\">Marshall Fire\u003c/a> in December 2021. The blaze moved so quickly that Solove’s husband was the only member of their family of four who had time to put shoes on before fleeing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove and her family rebuilt their home and moved back a year and a half later, a relatively quick timeline. She attributes that speed to a strong community and an outpouring of care and assistance from both friends and strangers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one instance, Solove met a woman who’d also lost a home in a wildfire. The two spoke for just a few minutes, but having “a person who had that shared human experience to reassure me meant everything,” Solove said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove recently began working for Extreme Weather Survivors after volunteering with the group for months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their call, Solove and the Morenos spoke about feelings: the surge of adrenaline in the first few days and then slowing down as a new reality sets in. They talked about kids: how to emotionally support them in the short and long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Morenos asked questions that only someone who’s been in their position could answer. Things like, if you do decide to move back, do you ever regain a sense of safety?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove said she, too, had feared that she wouldn’t. But the night her family moved into their new home, she felt “the purest joy and pride,” she said. “The only other life experience I could compare it to was giving birth to my two children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove does, at times, get nervous when there are strong winds, but overall, she is satisfied with her family’s decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the three spoke, Jodi Moreno held back tears. “There’s a knowingness in the way you’re talking that is deeply comforting,” she said. And while it’s likely too soon for survivors of the L.A. fires to feel this, Solove said she is actually grateful for the life experience of living through a catastrophic wildfire. She has learned how to comfort people during crises and that she, her family, and her community are stronger than she realized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996120\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996120\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg\" alt=\"A two-story home, with snow covering the yard in front.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The former home of Erica and Jon Solove in Superior, Colorado, the winter before it burned down in the 2021 Marshall Fire. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Solove family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The disaster also put things into focus. “I have forever changed my perspective on what is or isn’t important, what I value and what I hope to do and accomplish with my time here,” Solove said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove wasn’t able to save anything from her home that burned down, except for one partially melted mug salvaged from the ashes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she moved into her rebuilt home, she planted a succulent in the damaged mug. She keeps it in the center of her family’s kitchen table.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is scarred, yet fostering life. It represents resilience.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "No one asks to join the club of extreme weather survivors, but being a member makes you uniquely suited to helping others. The nonprofit Extreme Weather Survivors links veteran survivors with the newest ranks.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Jeff and Jodi Moreno took turns staying awake late into the night of Tuesday, Jan. 7; their eyes cemented to the Watch Duty app on their phones, which showed real-time updates and alerts for the fast-moving Eaton Fire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The winds howled so strongly that the Morenos worried a tree might crash through the bedroom windows of their Altadena home they had just remodeled. So, their three daughters slept on makeshift beds in the living room, just in case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 2:15 a.m., the couple heard people calling over a PA system from outside, instructing them to evacuate. The family of five loaded their cars and left the home they’ve lived in for the past 19 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they turned down their street the next afternoon, no houses came into view, just the stark, vertical lines of chimney after chimney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The shock was almost too much to feel much of anything,” Jeff Moreno said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a kind of loss that’s hard to relate to unless you’ve been through it before. And given that extreme weather disasters are becoming more frequent due to climate change, a growing number of people are actually able to understand this feeling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No one asks to join the club of extreme weather survivors, but being a member makes you uniquely suited to help others once you are out of an acute crisis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996121\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg\" alt=\"A before and after picture of a small, one-story, nicely kept home, and the remains of it after it was burned down.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"990\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-800x396.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1020x505.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-160x79.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-768x380.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1536x760.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/IMG_5331_duo-1920x950.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Moreno’s home in Altadena, California, before and after the Eaton Fire ravaged the community in January. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Moreno family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nonprofit called \u003ca href=\"https://www.extremeweathersurvivors.org/\">Extreme Weather Survivors\u003c/a> links these veteran survivors with the newest ranks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group has put together a Slack community for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/los-angeles-fires\">Los Angeles wildfire victims\u003c/a>, with sections devoted to insurance, debris removal and mental health. Doctors and scientists are involved in answering questions about smoke damage and children’s health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The more than 800 L.A. wildfire victims using the resource can also get advice from survivors of past wildfires who have walked this road before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right away from interacting with it, I was like, ‘Wow, there’s people on the other side of this,’” said Jodi Moreno, Jeff’s wife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can emotionally connect with all of our friends who are surviving this,” Jeff said. “But none of us know what the next step is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996129\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1996129\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-800x1000.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of a wife and husband and three daughters.\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-1020x1275.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/JodiEditBonus-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jeff and Jodi Moreno (center) and their daughters. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Moreno family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While most L.A. wildfire survivors are connecting asynchronously online, which can work well in the unsteady early days after displacement, the Morenos recently connected to a former wildfire survivor in real time over Zoom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Erica Solove lost her home to Colorado’s \u003ca href=\"https://research.noaa.gov/looking-back-at-colorados-marshall-fire/\">Marshall Fire\u003c/a> in December 2021. The blaze moved so quickly that Solove’s husband was the only member of their family of four who had time to put shoes on before fleeing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove and her family rebuilt their home and moved back a year and a half later, a relatively quick timeline. She attributes that speed to a strong community and an outpouring of care and assistance from both friends and strangers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one instance, Solove met a woman who’d also lost a home in a wildfire. The two spoke for just a few minutes, but having “a person who had that shared human experience to reassure me meant everything,” Solove said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove recently began working for Extreme Weather Survivors after volunteering with the group for months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their call, Solove and the Morenos spoke about feelings: the surge of adrenaline in the first few days and then slowing down as a new reality sets in. They talked about kids: how to emotionally support them in the short and long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Morenos asked questions that only someone who’s been in their position could answer. Things like, if you do decide to move back, do you ever regain a sense of safety?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove said she, too, had feared that she wouldn’t. But the night her family moved into their new home, she felt “the purest joy and pride,” she said. “The only other life experience I could compare it to was giving birth to my two children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove does, at times, get nervous when there are strong winds, but overall, she is satisfied with her family’s decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the three spoke, Jodi Moreno held back tears. “There’s a knowingness in the way you’re talking that is deeply comforting,” she said. And while it’s likely too soon for survivors of the L.A. fires to feel this, Solove said she is actually grateful for the life experience of living through a catastrophic wildfire. She has learned how to comfort people during crises and that she, her family, and her community are stronger than she realized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1996120\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1996120\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg\" alt=\"A two-story home, with snow covering the yard in front.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/02/PXL_20210315_182808193-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The former home of Erica and Jon Solove in Superior, Colorado, the winter before it burned down in the 2021 Marshall Fire. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Solove family)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The disaster also put things into focus. “I have forever changed my perspective on what is or isn’t important, what I value and what I hope to do and accomplish with my time here,” Solove said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solove wasn’t able to save anything from her home that burned down, except for one partially melted mug salvaged from the ashes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she moved into her rebuilt home, she planted a succulent in the damaged mug. She keeps it in the center of her family’s kitchen table.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is scarred, yet fostering life. It represents resilience.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
},
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