Bettina Boxall

Bettina Boxall joined The Times in 1987 and has covered environmental news for the paper since 2002, specializing in water and forest issues. She and Julie Cart won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for “Big Burn,” their five-part series on wildfire in the West.

Comments

[Dr. Richard Gierak]

In response to your article "Klamath River cleanup wins federal approval" I believe that the following information may be of some interest to you. The following youtube link will give you visual presentation of the graphs and the links to authenticate the data.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzLtZ3tc_JI

Salmonids in the Pacific NorthWest
Prepared by Dr. Richard A. Gierak
Bachelor degrees in Biology, Chemistry and a Doctorate in the Healing Arts

.Recent developments in the salmonid question
In recent months Fish & Wildlife, Fish & Game and environmental NGO’s have theorized that increases in the Caspian Tern in the Columbia Basin, in the State of Oregon, has been a causative factor in decreased salmonid production as they predate upon salmonid smolts. Salmonids compose 73 to 90 percent of the Caspian Tern‘s diet. Rather than considering thinning of the Tern population they are proposing relocating some of them throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada. The
rationale behind this proposal is insanity as the relocation and building of new habitats for the Tern would seriously affect present ecosystems in addition to allowing them to continue populating new areas for these predatory birds. As has previously been presented the causative factor in decreased commercial salmonid production in Washington, Oregon and California is the increased warming of the Pacific Ocean driving cold water salmonids North into Alaskan waters.
Another aspect of the salmonid controversy is that with the increased numbers of salmonids in Alaskan waters there is concern that there are too great a number of them and that there may not be enough food for these increased numbers and they are proposing that perhaps hatcheries should be shut down or seriously decrease their production
Overview
With the planting of Salmonids in California in 1895 and multiple subsequent plantings in addition to the erection of dams and hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest by 1950 the total landings of all species of Salmonids was 149,000 metric tons with 80% caught in Alaskan waters. With continued hatchery production, in 2007, the total landings was 403,000 metric tons in the Pacific Northwest with 97% caught in Alaskan waters. From the standpoint of commercial fishing the production of salmonids is a positive human intervention with a 273% increase since 1950.
However, the serious decline of commercial salmonid production in the States of California, Oregon and Washington have been attributed to the very human intervention that has proved successful for commercial salmonid production for over 100 years. At present Fish & Wildlife, Fish & Game and environmental NGO’s are proposing removal of dams and hatcheries which they theorize that salmonids will return to historic spawning grounds and increase production. The reality is that without dams and hatcheries there would be little salmonid production in the Pacific Northwest as historic data demonstrates.
Scientific analysis of decreased salmonid production
An in depth study of river and ocean conditions has been undertaken and it must be noted that there has been a historic rise in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean driving cold water salmonids North into Alaskan waters. Since the 1700’s we have not seen such a warming of the Pacific Ocean and the Graphic representation clearly illustrates a historic rise since the early 1970’s. In an attempt to understand this temperature rise it was discovered that there has been a comparable rise in the Ring of Fire volcanic activity since the early 1970’s. It was also discovered that planetary earthquake activity and heat content of the Pacific Ocean have also increased dramatically since the early 1970’s. The graphic representations states it clearly. There is no foundation for theorizing that removal of dams or hatcheries will restore salmonids in California, Oregon and Washington States.
Conclusions based on data from NMFS, NOAA, NASA & webecs in the United Kingdom
The decrease of salmonid populations in California, Oregon and Washington States is as a direct result of a historic rise in Pacific Ocean temperature driving salmonids North into Alaskan waters. Removal of dams and hatcheries and relocation of Caspian Terns will not restore salmonid fisheries but will ultimately destroy the Pacific Northwest commercial salmonid fisheries. It is apparent that temperature rise in the Pacific Ocean, volcanic activity increase in the Pacific Ring of Fire, global earthquake activity and increased heat content of the Pacific Ocean are the result of a planetary cycle and dams or hatcheries cannot be blamed for reduced salmonid runs in Washington, Oregon and California..
Respectfully submitted;
Dr. Richard A. Gierak

[alaina wilhite]

i just dont like the fact that these arctic oil spills can linger for years because then that means that the animals that live in those arctic places will have to deal with it for those years.A nd probably more years.

[Brian]

Hi,

The worst effects of the BP oil spill are being felt most by the animals whose habitats, eating patterns and very existence are being threatened. So, to get everyone into more of an actionable mood, here's a list of the ten cutest animals that are being directly hurt/threatened by the effects of the oil spill. The more people know about the facts, the faster some of us can start doing something about it. Either way, this is a really interesting read.

Top 10 Cutest Animals Threatened By the BP Oil Spill
http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-cutest-animals-threatened-by-bp-oil-spill/joanne

I thought your audience would enjoy this, so please feel free to write about this or even just post a link. If you'd like to become part of our social media strategy to drive a little additional traffic to your site, please let me know. Thanks for helping us spread the word about these animals and thank you, as always, for your time.

Best,

Brian Gilmore
Community Manager | Ranker.com
310-351-9819
brian@ranker.com

p.s Item 11 is a regularly updated list of charities, hotlines and online/media groups you can join for news on what you can do to help. If you have anything we should/could add to that list, please let me know.

[Dara]

Check out a new documentary, "Growing Greener Schools," airing in celebration of Earth Day Week on KCET on Sunday, April 18 at 10:30pm, and on KLCS on Monday, April 12 at 8pm and Tuesday April 13 at 11am. The documentary marks the first time anyone has taken a comprehensive look at the green movement in America's schools and how it affects the 55 million people in them everyday.

You can see a preview clip of the documentary at http://www.growinggreenerschools.org, a comprehensive website offering videos, resources, and an upcoming community forum uniting everyone across the country concerned with this issue. You can also follow the Media and Policy Center, which produced this film, on Facebook and Twitter.

[Jason Sabo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

We have reached a pivotal point in fire safety. Recently, the fire protection industry announced a new generation of fire safety products. Citizens for Fire Safety has worked tirelessly to encourage and promote this next generation of fire retardant products that are safe, effective and environmentally friendly. This groundbreaking move is one of many in the industry’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and fire safety.
This commitment has been hailed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, credited by the International Association of Fire Fighters, and will undoubtedly prove to be the paramount model of sustainable fire safety in the future.
The EPA agreement sets forth a rational, effective transition to newer alternatives, while allowing critical services such as police, fire and airlines to continue to use existing fire safety products that are critically important to saving lives. Proactive fire safety companies have already announced the production of environmentally-friendly fire retardants which minimize the use of raw materials, energy, byproducts and waste. This progressive thinking is largely a result of the efforts of Citizens for Fire Safety and their coalition of supporters across the nation.
As we make this transition, we must remain watchful of legislation that would preemptively ban existing products, leaving communities without adequate fire safety protection. This kind of legislation has been recently considered in states like Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, New York and Connecticut. While these states should be commended for their vigilance in the fight for fire safety and environmental health, we believe that the timeline that has been worked out with the EPA is the most appropriate. Let’s trust the scientists of the federal environmental agencies and not act precipitously to put our families and children at risk of serious injury or death. An effective national solution to this critical issue is the only solution that is truly safe.
In order to stay at the forefront of fire safety, Citizens for Fire Safety needs your support. It is our job to keep you informed as an important new generation of fire safety emerges. If you have any questions regarding the EPA announcement, state legislation, or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact Citizens for Fire Safety at 310-310-2616 or info@cffsi.org.

Sincerely,

Jason Sabo
Citizens for Fire Safety

[James Brennan]

Hi Bettina,

I wanted to let you know about a major milestone for clean energy in Los Angeles this week.

The Mar Vista Community Council voted unanimously to adopt a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2018. Read the full story:

http://blog.openmarvista.net/2009/11/mar-vista-declares-clean-energy-target.html

Thanks for your coverage of important news on the environment!

James

[Daniel Keller]

I'd like to call your attention to a recent report in Distributed Energy mag on the recently-completed off-grid power plant at Casino Morongo. The tribe is to be commended for building a grid-independent system, but why, with 32,000 acres in the heart of the Palm Springs desert and just up the road from one of the state's largest wind farms, did they opt for a system powered by gas turbines (and a diesel-powered backup)?
I've posted more info on it here: http://tiny.cc/MbYCZ and would really like to see some news coverage on this. At least on the surface it appears there must be some politics involved. The fact that my comment on the Distributed Energy site was deleted doesn't do much to refute that.

[Mimi Sheean]

Hi Bettina-

The Gas Company is planning to do some major pipeline maintenance in Sullivan Canyon, just above Brentwood. This maintenance will include the removal of 31 trees and the re-grading of the canyon. Sullivan Canyon is a major recreation area for hikers and mountain bikers, and it's character and beauty will surely be destroyed in this effort. The Gas Company is alerting the neighbors only now to this work that will begin on Sept. 1st, so there is no time for input from the public. What can the LA Times do to raise the level of awareness? I have the name of the Public Affairs Manager if that helps you. Thanks for your consideration.

Mimi Sheean

[Sara Bayles]

Hi Bettina -

I wanted to ask you if you would like to do a post about my project, The Daily Ocean. I am collecting trash from the beach for 365 days, 20 minutes a day, weighing it, documenting what I find with photographs and posting my progress here www.thedailyocean.blogspot.com
I collect from the Ocean Park beach in Santa Monica.

Thank you-
Sara