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A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem.

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A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. Each living thing in an ecosystem is part of multiple food chains. Each food chain is one possible path that energy and nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem. All of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a food web.

Organisms in food webs are grouped into categories called trophic levels. Roughly speaking, these levels are divided into producers (first trophic level), consumers, and decomposers (last trophic level).
Trophic Levels
Producers

Producers make up the first trophic level. Producers, also known as autotrophs, make their own food and do not depend on any other organism for nutrition. Most autotrophs use a process called photosynthesis to create food (a nutrient called glucose) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many other kinds. Algae, whose larger forms are known as seaweed, are autotrophic. Phytoplankton, tiny organisms that live in the ocean, are also autotrophs. Some types of bacteria are autotrophs. For example, bacteria living in active volcanoes use sulfur, not carbon dioxide, to produce their own food. This process is called chemosynthesis.

Consumers

The next trophic levels are made up of animals that eat producers. These organisms are called consumers.

Consumers can be carnivores (animals that eat other animals) or omnivores (animals that eat both plants and animals). Omnivores, like people, consume many types of foods. People eat plants, such as vegetables and fruits. We also eat animals and animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. We eat fungi, such as mushrooms. We also eat algae, in edible seaweeds like nori (used to wrap sushi rolls) and sea lettuce (used in salads). Bears are omnivores, too. They eat berries and mushrooms, as well as animals such as salmon and deer.

Primary consumers are herbivores. Herbivores eat plants, algae, and other producers. They are at the second trophic level. In a grassland ecosystem, deer, mice, and even elephants are herbivores. They eat grasses, shrubs, and trees. In a desert ecosystem, a mouse that eats seeds and fruits is a primary consumer.

In an ocean ecosystem, many types of fish and turtles are herbivores that eat algae and seagrass. In kelp forests, seaweeds known as giant kelp provide shelter and food for an entire ecosystem. Sea urchins are powerful primary consumers in kelp forests. These small herbivores eat dozens of kilograms (pounds) of giant kelp every day.

Secondary consumers eat herbivores. They are at the third trophic level. In a desert ecosystem, a secondary consumer may be a snake that eats a mouse. In the kelp forest, sea otters are secondary consumers that hunt sea urchins.

Tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers. They are at the fourth trophic level. In the desert ecosystem, an owl or eagle may prey on a snake.

There may be more levels of consumers before a chain finally reaches its top predator. Top predators, also called apex predators, eat other consumers. They may be at the fourth or fifth trophic level. They have no natural enemies except humans. Lions are apex predators in the grassland ecosystem. In the ocean, fish like the great white shark are apex predators. In the desert, bobcats and mountain lions are top predators.

Detritivores and Decomposers

Detritivores and decomposers make up the last part of food chains. Detritivores are organisms that eat nonliving plant and animal remains. For example, scavengers such as vultures eat dead animals. Dung beetles eat animal feces.

Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, complete the food chain. Decomposers turn organic wastes, such as decaying plants, into inorganic materials, such as nutrient-rich soil. They complete the cycle of life, returning nutrients to the soil or oceans for use by autotrophs. This starts a whole new series of food chains.

Food Chains

Food webs connect many different food chains, and many different trophic levels. Food webs can support food chains that are long and complicated, or very short.

For example, grass in a forest clearing produces its own food through photosynthesis. A rabbit eats the grass. A fox eats the rabbit. When the fox dies, decomposers such as worms and mushrooms break down its body, returning it to the soil where it provides nutrients for plants like grass.

This short food chain is one part of the forest's food web. Another food chain in the same ecosystem might involve completely different organisms. A caterpillar may eat the leaves of a tree in the forest. A bird such as a sparrow may eat the caterpillar. A snake may then prey on the sparrow. An eagle, an apex predator, may prey on the snake. Yet another bird, a vulture, consumes the body of the dead eagle. Finally, bacteria in the soil decompose the remains.

Algae and plankton are the main producers in marine ecosystems. Tiny shrimp called krill eat the microscopic plankton. The largest animal on Earth, the blue whale, preys on thousands of tons of krill every day. Apex predators such as orcas prey on blue whales. As the bodies of large animals such as whales sink to the seafloor, detritivores such as worms break down the material. The nutrients released by the decaying flesh provide chemicals for algae and plankton to start a new series of food chains.

Food webs are defined by their biomass. Biomass is the energy in living organisms. Autotrophs, the producers in a food web, convert the sun's energy into biomass. Biomass decreases with each trophic level. There is always more biomass in lower trophic levels than in higher ones.

Because biomass decreases with each trophic level, there are always more autotrophs than herbivores in a healthy food web. There are more herbivores than carnivores. An ecosystem cannot support a large number of omnivores without supporting an even larger number of herbivores, and an even larger number of autotrophs.

A healthy food web has an abundance of autotrophs, many herbivores, and relatively few carnivores and omnivores. This balance helps the ecosystem maintain and recycle biomass.

Every link in a food web is connected to at least two others. The biomass of an ecosystem depends on how balanced and connected its food web is. When one link in the food web is threatened, some or all of the links are weakened or stressed. The ecosystems biomass declines.

The loss of plant life usually leads to a decline in the herbivore population, for instance. Plant life can decline due to drought, disease, or human activity. Forests are cut down to provide lumber for construction. Grasslands are paved over for shopping malls or parking lots.

The loss of biomass on the second or third trophic level can also put a food web out of balance. Consider what may happen if a salmon run is diverted. A salmon run is a river where salmon swim. Salmon runs can be diverted by landslides and earthquakes, as well as the construction of dams and levees.

Biomass is lost as salmon are cut out of the rivers. Unable to eat salmon, omnivores like bears are forced to rely more heavily on other food sources, such as ants. The area's ant population shrinks. Ants are usually scavengers and detritivores, so fewer nutrients are broken down in the soil. The soil is unable to support as many autotrophs, so biomass is lost. Salmon themselves are predators of insect larvae and smaller fish. Without salmon to keep their population in check, aquatic insects may devastate local plant communities. Fewer plants survive, and biomass is lost.

A loss of organisms on higher trophic levels, such as carnivores, can also disrupt a food chain. In kelp forests, sea urchins are the primary consumer of kelp. Sea otters prey on urchins. If the sea otter population shrinks due to disease or hunting, urchins devastate the kelp forest. Lacking a community of producers, biomass plummets. The entire kelp forest disappears. Such areas are called urchin barrens.

Human activity can reduce the number of predators. In 1986, officials in Venezuela dammed the Caroni River, creating an enormous lake about twice the size of Rhode Island. Hundreds of hilltops turned into islands in this lake. With their habitats reduced to tiny islands, many terrestrial predators weren't able to find enough food. As a result, prey animals like howler monkeys, leaf-cutter ants, and iguanas flourished. The ants became so numerous that they destroyed the rainforest, killing all the trees and other plants. The food web surrounding the Caroni River was destroyed.

Biomass declines as you move up through the trophic levels. However, some types of materials, especially toxic chemicals, increase with each trophic level in the food web. These chemicals usually collect in the fat of animals.

When an herbivore eats a plant or other autotroph that is covered in pesticides, for example, those pesticides are stored in the animal's fat. When a carnivore eats several of these herbivores, it takes in the pesticide chemicals stored in its prey. This process is called bioaccumulation.

Bioaccumulation happens in aquatic ecosystems too. Runoff from urban areas or farms can be full of pollutants. Tiny producers such as algae, bacteria, and seagrass absorb minute amounts of these pollutants. Primary consumers, such as sea turtles and fish, eat the seagrass. They use the energy and nutrients provided by the plants, but store the chemicals in their fatty tissue. Predators on the third trophic level, such as sharks or tuna, eat the fish. By the time the tuna is consumed by people, it may be storing a Biomass remarkable amount of bioaccumulated toxins.

Because of bioaccumulation, organisms in some polluted ecosystems are unsafe to eat and not allowed to be harvested. Oysters in the harbor of the United States' New York City, for instance, are unsafe to eat. The pollutants in the harbor accumulate in its oysters, a filter feeder.

In the 1940s and 1950s, a pesticide called DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was widely used to kill insects that spread diseases. During World War II, the Allies used DDT to eliminate typhus in Europe, and to control malaria in the South Pacific. Scientists believed they had discovered a miracle drug. DDT was largely responsible for eliminating malaria in places like Taiwan, the Caribbean, and the Balkans.

Sadly, DDT bioaccumulates in an ecosystem and causes damage to the environment. DDT accumulates in soil and water. Some forms of DDT decompose slowly. Worms, grasses, algae, and fish accumulate DDT. Apex predators, such as eagles, had high amounts of DDT in their bodies, accumulated from the fish and small mammals they prey on.

Birds with high amounts of DDT in their bodies lay eggs with extremely thin shells. These shells would often break before the baby birds were ready to hatch.

DDT was a major reason for the decline of the bald eagle, an apex predator that feeds primarily on fish and small rodents. Today, the use of DDT has been restricted. The food webs of which it is a part have recovered in most parts of the country. Bioaccumulation

Fast Fact

Lost Energy
Biomass shrinks with each trophic level. That is because between 80% and 90% of an organism's energy, or biomass, is lost as heat or waste. A predator consumes only the remaining biomass.

Fast Fact

A Million to One
Marine food webs are usually longer than terrestrial food webs. Scientists estimate that if there are a million producers (algae, phytoplankton, and sea grass) in a food web, there may only be 10,000 herbivores. Such a food web may support 100 secondary consumers, such as tuna. All these organisms support only one apex predator, such as a person.

Fast Fact

Out for Blood
One of the earliest descriptions of food webs was given by the scientist Al-Jahiz, working in Baghdad, Iraq, in the early 800s. Al-Jahiz wrote about mosquitoes preying on the blood of elephants and hippos. Al-Jahiz understood that although mosquitoes preyed on other animals, they were also prey to animals such as flies and small birds.

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A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem.

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As California continuous to experience deadly and devastating wildfires each year across its landscape, the Indigenous practice of cultural burning and "good fire" is earning renewed attention.

The University of California published this week an excellent feature by UCOP writer Robyn Schelenz and videographer Jessica Wheelock called "How the Indigenous Practice of 'Good Fire' Can Help Our Forests Thrive."

The feature includes UC Davis professor of Native American Studies Beth Rose Middleton Manning and the Honorable Ron W. Goode, Tribal Chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe. They have worked together to teach UC Davis students and others about traditional Indigenous burns-an experience highlighted by our own 2020 story, " Rethinking Wildfire."

The excerpt below focuses on important differences between "prescribed burns" and "cultural burning:"

The difference between prescribed burns and cultural burning

[T]here are important differences in philosophy and execution between prescribed burns and cultural burning in their approach to the land, Goode says.
Now go read the full story.

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How Indigenous Practices Can Help Forests Thrive

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What's the difference between prescribed burns and cultural burning? A new feature story explains this and explores many more elements of Indigenous burning practices in California.

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The planned and controlled application of fire to the land under specified conditions, to reduce vegetation and risk from wildfire.

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This is by Yale

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Food and ecology are inextricably linked, both in the production of domesticated food through agriculture and livestock, and in the harvesting of wild plants and animals. Furthermore, the production and consumption of food has downstream consequences through energy consumption, food waste, trophic interactions and the transportation of food around the globe. These topics link to many of the fundamental concepts of ecology, including population biology, the niche, trophic interactions, nitrogen cycling and the effects on biodiversity. In this class we explore each of these topics intensively through a combination of lectures, readings and interactive field trips to local ecosystems, the Marsh and Yale Biology Building greenhouses, the Yale Sustainable Farm, and local food producers. The course meets twice a week: for 50 minutes for a combination of lecture and discussion, and for 110 minutes for field trips and guest lectures.

1 Yale College course credit(s)

Professor (Faculty Member):

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Food and ecology are inextricably linked, both in the production of domesticated food through agriculture and livestock, and in the harvesting of wild plants and animals. Furthermore, the production and consumption of food has downstream consequences through energy consumption, food waste, trophic interactions and the transportation of food around the globe.

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Ecology is the study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment. It is a complex and ever-changing field, and there are many different problems that ecologists are working to solve. Some of the most pressing ecology problems include climate change, pollution, and habitat loss.

Climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment. It is caused by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and cause the planet to warm. Climate change is already having a significant impact on the environment, and it is only going to get worse if we do not take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Pollution is another major problem that is harming the environment. Pollution can come from a variety of sources, including factories, cars, and agriculture. It can cause a variety of problems, including air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.

Habitat loss is another serious problem that is threatening the environment. Habitat loss is caused by a variety of factors, including deforestation, development, and climate change. It is a major threat to biodiversity, and it is causing the extinction of many species.

These are just a few of the many ecology problems that we are facing today. It is important to be aware of these problems and to take action to help solve them. We can all make a difference by reducing our carbon footprint, recycling, and conserving energy. We can also support organizations that are working to protect the environment.

Together, we can make a difference and help to create a more sustainable future.

By Chat GPT

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The benefits of prescribed Fire on Natural Areas

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The benefits of prescribed Fire on Natural Areas

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

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Fire has an important role to play in many of Minnesota's ecosystems. From prairie to fire-dependent forests. It is not a new management tool. Historically, Native Americans set fires to maintain these ecosystems, as well as to aid in hunting. Fires would also ignite by lightning strikes, and later, by train sparks along railroads.

When Europeans settled in Minnesota, they suppressed fire over large parts of the state. Most suppression was a result of converting lands to agricultural crops, grazed pasture, and roads. The bare dirt of spring crop fields and grazed pasture do not burn. Roads fragment the landscape, serving as firebreaks that greatly reduce the potential size of fires. These factors negatively impacted fire-dependent ecosystems. Today natural resource professionals use fire in a safe and controlled way to enhance these lands, and help prevent wildfires.

Invasive species management is one of the important uses of prescribed fire. Invasive species frequently out-compete native plants, and can take over ecosystems. With fire, as well as other land management strategies, invasive species can be set back, allowing native species to re-establish. Using multiple strategies, degraded ecosystems can slowly be restored. The goal is to control invasive species, and maintain the native plant communities with periodic prescribed fire.

Benefits of a safe and successful prescribed burn:

Combats trees and shrubs that shade out prairie and other shade-intolerant plants

Removes old vegetation to make room for new growth

Shifts soil nutrients to a state more favorable to prairie species

Helps reduce the spread of invasive and pest species

Consumes excess fuel, such as dead and downed trees, reducing dangerous and intense wildfires

Burning in patches creates a mosaic of habitats for a variety of plants and animals.

Lost Valley Prairie SNA 2019 Prescribed Burn

A prescribed burn, conducted at Lost Valley Prairie in May 2019, helped reduce the built up dead vegetation, stimulate prairie plant growth and seed production, and eliminate woody species like buckthorn.

St. Croix Savanna SNA 2019 Prescribed Burn

A prescribed burn, conducted at St. Croix Savanna in April 2019, helped maintain the site's fire dependent oak savanna and prairie by reducing trees, shrubs and invasive species. This burn targeted buckthorn seedlings and reduced built up of dead vegetation.

Resources

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The benefits of prescribed fire on natural areas

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Benefits of Prescribed Fire on Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas. Including slideshows showing a natural area the year it is burned.

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Overview

Donell Fire in Stanislaus National Forest in 2018. Photo courtesy of Cecilio Ricardo, USDA Forest Service.

Since the 1980s, the size and intensity of wildfires in California have notably increased. Fifteen of the 20 largest wildfires in California history have occurred since 2000, and ten of the most costly and destructive fires to life and property in the state have occurred since 2015. Managing forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands for broad ecological and societal benefits has become a challenging issue in California. Due to increasing fire size, frequency, and susceptibility to beetle outbreaks and drought driven mortality, forest biodiversity and composition is changing rapidly. Changes in vegetation structure alter important aspects of fire regimes (e.g., magnitude, frequency, seasonality), and these changes affect the management of biodiversity, groundwater management, forestry, recreation, as well as human safety. Atypically large patches of high-severity fire can hinder the ability of an ecosystem to recover, potentially undermining conservation of native biodiversity by long-term or permanent loss of native vegetation, expansion of non-native, invasive species, and long-term or permanent loss of essential habitat for native fauna. The devastating effects of recent wildfires have highlighted the need for California to reevaluate wildfire risk management and direct greater efforts toward wildfire resilience.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has many links to the topics of wildfire risk management and resilience. CDFW's mission is to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. In accordance with this mission, CDFW balances the management of California's natural resources with public health and safety. As a regulatory agency, CDFW is tasked with the management of a variety of native species, many of which rely on wildfire or habitat shaped by wildfire to thrive. CDFW is focused on working with partners to address new challenges from extreme wildfires and to create resilient landscapes that can allow for wildfire that promotes California ecosystems and biodiversity.

In the roles of a trustee agency and a responsible agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, CDFW reviews and comments on environmental documents for project activities that may impact fish and wildlife resources. Additionally, CDFW is the second largest state landholder in the state, with over 1,100,100 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. As a landholder, there is an obligation for CDFW to meet land management requirements by maintaining lands while meeting the associated mandates. Finally, CDFW is responsible for operating multiple grant programs and, through this role, provides funding to some projects that are directly linked to ecosystem (e.g., forests) and habitat health, which affects management of wildfires.

Managing wildfire resilience requires adoption of a landscape-scale perspective to take into consideration ecosystem and watershed health. An example of such a perspective is the Governor's Forest Management Task Force (Task Force)(opens in new tab) , established in 2018 and comprised of members from state, local, tribal, and federal agencies. The Task Force works at a landscape level to expand and improve forest management to enhance forest health and resiliency. The Task Force's activities are informed and supported by the best science, thanks to scientific analysis and advice from its Scientific Advisory Panel. Through involvement in the Task Force and its affiliated Regional Prioritization Groups, CDFW participates in discussions about fire risk management and forest resilience.

Fire Ecology

Woolsey Fire in 2018. Photo courtesy of Peter Buschmann.

Almost all of California's diverse ecosystems are fire-dependent or fire-adapted. Fire-dependent ecosystems need wildfire to maintain appropriate function and health, while fire-adapted ecosystems have evolved to survive wildfire. Fire elicits a different response from the species and vegetation communities in each ecosystem, but oftentimes, ecosystem ecology and dynamics are greatly influenced by wildfire. Fire can act as a catalyst for promoting biological diversity and healthy ecosystems, reducing buildup of organic debris, releasing nutrients into the soil, and triggering changes in vegetation community composition. Fire severity refers to the ecosystem impacts of a fire, and an individual fire may have a range of fire severity. Both high and low-severity fire areas provide important benefits for different wildlife and plant species.

Historic wildfire regimes, the pattern, timing, duration, and intensity in which fires naturally have occurred on the different vegetation communities and physical landscape, vary widely throughout the state. Through decades of management actions, such as wildland fire suppression, human expansion in to wildlands, and climate change, these regimes have been altered, producing an imbalance between wildfire and ecosystem interactions. For example, in forest ecosystems, dense stand conditions, combined with the effects of more frequent drought and other climatic change, have led many areas to become more vulnerable to pests (e.g., bark beetles), disease, and fire. The removal of natural fire from an ecosystem can lead to excess fuel buildup and changes in vegetation composition, which can increase the risk of uncharacteristically large high-severity fires.

Increases in uncharacteristically large wildfires can exacerbate impacts on both ecosystems and human communities. Expanded areas of high-severity fire can impact tree regeneration, soil erosion, and water quality. Communities continue to be impacted directly, through destructive fires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (i.e., areas where homes are built near or among lands that are prone to wildland fire), and indirectly, through poor air quality over large areas of the state.

Related

Wildfires and Climate Change

Changes in fuels, climate, and ignition patterns affect wildfire behavior, and climate change is just one factor that can exacerbate those changes. In addition to increasing the length of the wildfire season, climate change is amplifying drought frequency and severity. Drought causes moisture stress in vegetation, which leads to higher susceptibility to wildfire. Although California has received abundant precipitation in recent years, this rainfall does not necessarily erase the effects that years of severe drought have had on vegetation. Since vegetation may still be recovering from moisture stress during drought conditions, the high susceptibility to wildfire still persists despite the greater amount of precipitation.

Related

Fire Risk Management

Hot Shot firefighter Laura Spellman uses a drip torch to burn lower vegetation to contain the oncoming fire in Mendocino National Forest in 2018.Photo courtesy of Cecilio Ricardo, USDA Forest Service.

As the population of California continues to grow, more residents are living in the Wildland-Urban Interface, and with climate change increasing the length of the fire season, we continue to see more frequent, larger, high-severity wildfires impacting communities throughout the state.

Land managers use multiple types of fuel treatments to modify wildfire behavior and effects, including prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, prescribed herbivory, and mastication. It is critical that ecological impacts of the fuel treatments are considered in this process in order to avoid unintended consequences on wildlife and ecosystem health. Specifically, considerations include existing fuel conditions, vegetation types, and efficacy of the treatments with respect to management objectives for the site. In many cases, multiple treatment types are combined to achieve the desired results, such as mechanical thinning followed by prescribed burning. Appropriate design of these treatments can minimize the amount of unintended impacts on various ecosystem components.

Safely reintroducing fire back onto the landscape is essential to creating heterogenous, diverse vegetation and healthy ecological processes (e.g., water storage, pest resistance), promoting ecosystem resilience and enhancing biodiversity. The Task Force was convened to protect the environmental quality, public health, and economic benefits that healthy ecosystems, especially forests, provide to California. The Task Force is working toward increasing the rate of forest treatments and expanding the state wood product markets, to restore forest health in California. By encouraging discussion and searching for solutions to complex forest management and economic issues, the Task Force is taking a wholistic approach to addressing forest health and fire prevention. As a trustee agency for biological resources, CDFW is participating in these conversations to work towards healthy, resilient forests.

Related

Regulatory Context

Redding Hotshot crew member conducts firing operation in Mendocino National Forest in 2018. Photo courtesy of Colby Jackson, Bureau of Land Management.

In September 2018, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 901(opens in new tab) , which set aside $200 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for forest health and fire prevention projects in order to work towards the goals laid out in the California Forest Carbon Plan (PDF)(opens in new tab) and reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire. The California Forest Carbon Plan aims to significantly increase the pace and scale of forest and watershed improvements on non-federal lands to 500,000 acres annually.

At the beginning of 2019, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-05-19, directing the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)(opens in new tab) to recommend immediate, medium, and long-term actions to help prevent destructive wildfires. In March 2019, N-05-19 was followed by the Governor's Proclamation of a State of Emergency (opens in new tab) throughout California before the impending wildfire season. The State of Emergency proclamation addresses community vulnerability and wildfire fuel buildup by expediting selected forest management projects and allows for waivers of administrative and regulatory requirements to enable action to be taken within the next 12 months.

In response to this Executive Order, CAL FIRE identified 35 priority fuel-reduction projects that can be implemented immediately to help reduce the public safety risk of wildfire. Selection of these projects included three main analyses: evaluation of socioeconomic characteristics of communities that indicate vulnerability to wildfire, identification of priority projects based on existing CAL FIRE Unit Plans (i.e., plans for how each CAL FIRE Operational Unit will achieve the goals and objectives of the 2018 Strategic Fire Plan), and evaluation of wildfire risk within the proposed project area. The California Board of Forestry and Fire Prevention(opens in new tab) has prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report for the California Vegetation Treatment Program(opens in new tab) , which will facilitate vegetation management projects throughout the state.

Related

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The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

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Here is an essay on a problem in ecology by Chat GPT:

The Problem of Pollution

Pollution is a major problem in ecology. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including human activity, natural disasters, and industrial accidents. Pollution can have a devastating impact on the environment, and can lead to the extinction of species, the destruction of ecosystems, and the contamination of water supplies.

There are many different types of pollution, including air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, and noise pollution. Air pollution is caused by the release of harmful gases and particles into the air. These pollutants can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. Water pollution is caused by the release of harmful chemicals and sewage into water bodies. These pollutants can contaminate drinking water, kill fish and other aquatic life, and damage ecosystems. Land pollution is caused by the improper disposal of waste, such as garbage, sewage, and industrial waste. This pollution can contaminate soil and groundwater, and can make it difficult for plants to grow. Noise pollution is caused by loud noises, such as traffic, construction, and music. This pollution can cause hearing loss, stress, and sleep problems.

Pollution is a serious problem that affects the health of people and the environment. It is important to take steps to reduce pollution, such as recycling, conserving energy, and using less water. We also need to support policies that promote clean energy and protect the environment.

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Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them. Ecology also provides information about the benefits of ecosystems and how we can use Earth’s resources in ways that leave the environment healthy for future generations.

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What Is Ecology? – The Ecological Society of America

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Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them. Ecology also provides information about the benefits of ecosystems and how we can use Earth’s resources in ways that leave the environment healthy for future generations.

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vhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.govhttps://www.noaa.gov

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America's population has doubled over the last half century, and our demand for water has tripled. Water conservation is more important than ever, and the world is looking for tips on saving water. The great news is that with just a few simple changes, you can reduce your water footprint. And Constellation is here to help!

How to save water: 10 tips for saving water around the home

The majority of household water use comes from toilets, washing machines, showers, baths, faucets and leaks, but what you can do to save water is fairly simple. These 10 water-saving tips will put you on the path to conserving water in your household.

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Learn what water conservation is, why it's important to you, and Constellation's top 10 tips for saving water around the home.

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What is biodiversity conservation and how does it work

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What is biodiversity conservation and how does it work

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https://byjus.com/biology/biodiversity-conservation/#:~:text=Biodiversity%20conservation%20is%20the%20protection,utilization%20of%20species%20and%20ecosystem.

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Biodiversity Conservation - Different Methods And Strategies

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Biodiversity conservation is the protection and upliftment of the living organisms for sustainable benefits. Explore more about biodiversity and its conservation only @ BYJU'S.

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Several wildfires have been burning across California, prompting evacuation orders and air quality alerts in the Northern portion of the state in late August.

Reader Beth Purrison, a Sacramento resident, asked The Sacramento Bee's service journalism team, which answers reader questions: "How do I find my fire hazard zone number? I tried googling it without success."

Here's how you can find your area's fire hazard information and what you need to do in case of emergency:

How do I find my fire hazard zone number?

In the case of a fire emergency, including the recent Smith River Complex which had burned more than 83,000 acres as of Friday, Cal Fire will put out evacuation orders and warnings for fire hazard zones in its jurisdiction.

California residents can check the status of their area in fire emergencies by entering their address into the search bar of Genasys Protect to see which zone they are in and how they need to respond to Cal Fire's instructions.

However, the map doesn't include every county. Among those missing are Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer counties, which have their own evacuation plans.

Why are some counties not in a zone?

Placer County is covered by the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, Lt. Ty Conners, a Placer County spokesperson said. However, evacuation plans are decided in unified command with law enforcement and Cal Fire

Conners said Placer County does not have pre-zoning areas because local officials feel it is not the best way to deal with a fire in this area.

"We have good support on the GIS (geographic information system) component," Conners said. "We have the capability of being more strategic when it comes to zoning."

Placer County's GIS "allows users to view, understand, question, interpret and visualize data," according to the California State Lands Commission website.

"A fire dictates zones by its behavior and direction," Conners said.

"Pre-zoning is great, but if a fire touches a small part of the zone, then the whole area gets an evacuation order even if there's a big part that will not be affected," Conners said. "A lot of people are getting displaced when they don't have to be."

Once a zone is created, Conners said Placer County residents registered on Everbridge will receive a Placer Alert if they need to evacuate.

All public safety agencies in Sacramento, Yolo and Placer counties have partnered with Everbridge to alert residents about emergency events and important public safety information.

In Sacramento County, spokesperson Matthew Robinson said fire responsibility falls on local law enforcement.

"The two fire departments coordinate on coverage for the unincorporated areas," Robinson said in an email.

Rather than relying on state authorities, Robinson said the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and the Sacramento Fire Department take charge. Similar to Placer, Sacramento County makes its own zones.

The zone map includes:

The Yolo County Office of Emergency Services has created a pre-planned evacuation zones map within the county to help the evacuation processes in case of a wildfire.

Emergency officials use the Yolo Alert Emergency Notification System to deliver information that is important and time-sensitive to residents in times of emergencies including wildfires.

El Dorado County officials did not respond by time of publication to emails or phone calls requesting for information on what fire zones and procedures are.

Based on information provided on the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office website, the county has its own evacuation orders map.

Is your home at higher risk for wildfires?

Cal Fire's Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone map was updated in 2022 to show the increase of fire danger in the state.

The state considers the following factors in order to categorize areas into "moderate," "high" of "very high" fire risk:

Climate change

The increase in fires

Fire history

Flying embers

Estimated flame length.

The map is available to view online. Only areas under the state's responsibility are included in the map, not federal or local territories.
What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.

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How do I find my wildfire evacuation zone or home's risk level in California?

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California's wildfire season has begun. Here's how to find your county's evacuation zones and how at-risk your home could be for fires.

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California is suffering through a major drought, and last year was the driest in state history. We know it’s another example of the kind of extreme weather we’ll see more of unless we solve global warming. As a result, we all need to conserve water today, and advocate to protect our water in the fut…

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Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies. These dangerous fires spread quickly and can devastate not only wildlife and natural areas, but also communities.

Prepare for Wildfires

Stay Safe During

Returning Home After a Wildfire

Additional Resources

Videos

Social Media & Graphics

More Info

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How to prepare for a wildfire, stay safe during a wildfire, and return home safely after a wildfire. Prepare for Wildfires Stay Safe During After a Wildfire Additional Resources Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies.

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This website compiles information and resources on drought in California to help implement sustainable solutions in the face of a drier future due to climate change.

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State of California, Department of Water Resources, DWR

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California Water Watch, Hydrology Update and Drought Status

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPwQ5mygJ-8

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How To Fix The Water Crisis | CNBC Marathon

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What is a Drought?
A drought is generally defined as a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in water supply. A drought can last for months or years, and can have a substantial impact on the environment, ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region.
Why Prepare?
Drought conditions can lead to insufficient supplies of water for drinking, household usage, fire suppression, agriculture. Water sources, including reservoirs, groundwater, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, can be greatly impacted, and can result in loss of water supply, crop damage, and significant effects on the environment.

Before and during a drought, taking steps to reduce water usage both inside and outside your home can help conserve water and minimize impacts to availability of water supplies. Efforts for conserving water should be made by both consumers of municipal water supplies, as well as private well owners.

The State's Drought Management Task Force evaluates drought conditions and impacts, and provides recommendations to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on classifying drought levels for the various regions of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth has six drought regions (West, Connecticut River, Central, Northeast, Southeast and Cape/Islands), and the following five drought level classifications:

Normal (normal to slightly dry conditions)

Advisory (abnormally dry conditions)

Watch (excessively dry conditions)

Warning (severely dry conditions)

Emergency (emergency condition)

Find additional details on drought regions and current drought classification levels.

Make water conservation practices a part of your daily life and help preserve this essential resource.
Indoor Water Conservation Tips Prior to a Drought General

Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, use it to water your indoor plants or garden.

Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year.

Check all plumbing for leaks and have any leaks repaired by a plumber.

Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.

Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.

Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.

Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.

Choose appliances that are more water and energy efficient.

Bathroom

Install a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. Note: In some areas, low-volume units are required by law.

For toilets with larger water tanks, install a toilet displacement device to reduce the amount of water needed to flush.

Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.

Kitchen

Reduce use of sink disposals, which require a lot of water to operate properly. Instead, start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage.
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips Prior to a Drought General

Check your well pump periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you may have a leak.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs, and trees, or small plants. Small plants require less water to become established. Group plants together based on similar water needs.

Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use, such as micro and drip irrigation, and soaker hoses.

Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.

Leave grass clippings on lawn to shade and return nutrients to soil.

Avoid purchasing recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.

Avoid installing ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless they use re-circulated water.

Consider using rainwater collection systems to water plants and gardens.

Contact your local water provider for additional guidance and information.

Lawn Care

Position sprinklers so water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas.

Repair sprinklers that spray a fine mist. Most misting issues result from a pressure problem, properly regulating pressure in an irrigation system will prevent misting.

Check sprinkler systems and timing devices regularly to be sure they operate properly.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches or to its highest level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system, and holds soil moisture.

Plant drought-resistant lawn seed. Reduce or eliminate lawn areas that are not used frequently.

Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn. Applying fertilizer increases the need for water.

Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Turn irrigation down in fall and off in winter. Water manually in winter only if needed.

Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds.

Invest in a weather-based irrigation controller-or a smart controller. These devices will automatically adjust the watering time and frequency based on soil moisture, rain, wind, and evaporation and transpiration rates. Check with your local water agency to see if there is a rebate available for the purchase of a smart controller.

Pool

Install a water-saving pool filter. A single back flushing with a traditional filter uses 180 to 250 gallons of water.

Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation of water.

Follow all state and local restrictions on water use, even if you have a private well (groundwater levels are affected by private well use). Contact your local water supplier or check MassDEP's Municipal Water Use Restrictions page for current status.
Indoor Water Conservation Tips While in a Drought Bathroom

Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

Avoid taking baths. Take short showers; turn on water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off.

Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving.

Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.

Kitchen

Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded. Use the "light wash" feature, if available, to use less water.

Hand wash dishes by filling two containers-one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.

Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.

Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.

Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.

Avoid rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher; just remove large particles of food. (Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing).

Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave oven.

Laundry

Operate automatic clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the appropriate water level for the size of your load.
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips While in a Drought Car Washing

Do not wash your car by handheld hose.

If you use a commercial car wash, consider using a car wash that recycles water.

Lawn Care

Follow all outdoor watering restrictions.

If permitted to conduct outdoor watering, avoid over watering your lawn and water only when needed. Water only in the early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler and water is less likely to evaporate.

A heavy rain eliminates the need for watering for up to two weeks. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week.

Check the soil moisture levels with a soil probe, spade or large screwdriver. You don't need to water if the soil is still moist. If your grass springs back when you step on it, it doesn't need water yet.

Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, driveway or street.

Water in several short sessions rather than one long one, in order for your lawn to better absorb moisture and avoid runoff.

Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.

Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours.

In extreme drought, allow lawns to go unwatered in favor of preserving trees and large shrubs.

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A drought is generally defined as a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in water supply. Droughts can last for months or years, and can have major impacts on the environment, ecosystem and agriculture.

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There are two major types of current fire information: fire perimeter and hot spot data: Fire perimeter data are generally collected by a combination of aerial sensors and on-the-ground information. These data are used to make highly accurate perimeter maps for firefighters and other emergency personnel, but are generally updated only once every 12 hours.

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California Reservoirs Reflect Deepening Drought

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California Reservoirs Reflect Deepening Drought

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Just four years after emerging from a severe multi-year drought, California has descended into dry conditions not seen since 1976-77. Evidence of the new drought stands out in satellite images of the state's two largest reservoirs.

The images above and below, acquired by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8, show Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville this year and in June 2019 (more typical conditions). The tan fringes around the water in 2021 are areas of the lakebed that are underwater when the reservoirs are filled closer to capacity. The phenomenon is often referred to as a " bathtub ring."

Managed by the US Bureau of Reclamation, Shasta Lake is the largest reservoir and third largest water body in California. Situated north of Redding, the reservoir feeds into the Sacramento River watershed and is a key water source for the rich agricultural lands of the Central Valley. As of June 16, 2021, Shasta Lake held 1.87 million acre feet (maf) of water, or about 41 percent of capacity and 49 percent of the historical average for this time of year. From the time of the 2019 Landsat image to this week, the lake level dropped 106 feet (32 meters) in elevation.

Lake Oroville, managed by the California Department of Water Resources, has seen a precipitous drop as well. From June 2019 to June 2021, the water level on the state's second largest reservoir fell 190 feet (58 meters), from 895 to 705 feet above sea level. According to the Associated Press, the record low is 646 feet, set in September 1977.

On June 16, Cal Water reported that Lake Oroville stood at 35 percent of capacity and 43 percent of average-just slightly better than the historically dry years of 1976-77. According to several news reports, eight out of ten boat launches around Oroville have been closed, and resource managers are concerned that the reservoir's hydroelectric power plant might have to be idled if water levels drop much more.

Water storage in reservoirs is complicated and not entirely tied to recent conditions. State and federal resource managers adjust flows to provide water allotments to farmers and cities and to maintain habitat for native and sometimes endangered species. (For instance, salmon need cold water from the reservoirs to spawn.) In some parts of California, water is also managed to prevent saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies.

Even with management for drought, the situation in many California reservoirs is growing serious as air temperatures have been unusually warm for months and precipitation has been between 35 to 50 percent of normal. In the Northern Sierra (Sacramento) water region, mean precipitation since October 1 has been 23.1 inches; the average (1966-2015) is 51.8 inches. It has so far been the driest year since the 1976-77 drought. (October 1 is the beginning of the " water year.") The San Joaquin water region is now in the third driest stretch behind 1976-77 and 2014-15; the Tulare Basin has seen its least precipitation on record. These rain and snow deficits follow well-below average precipitation in 2019-20.

The reservoir deficits have been exacerbated by a lack of snowmelt running down from the Sierra Nevada range. Mountain snowfall was already below average this winter, and much of it melted quickly amid high spring temperatures. Large volumes of meltwater were also absorbed by soils still parched from last year. Altogether, water authorities estimate anywhere from 500,000 to 800,000 acre-feet of meltwater never made it out of the mountains. (One acre-foot can supply roughly two households with water for one year.)

"This extra dryness and the unusual warmth has made this second year of drought more like the third or fourth year of the previous drought (2012-2016). So California is having to react faster than usual," said Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis. "On the other hand, the recent 2012-2016 drought has more of the institutions and plumbing already tuned-up for managing drought . In some ways we are better prepared. But it is like a hurricane on the East Coast: you can be prepared, but it is still a hurricane, and there will be damage."

The state government has issued drought proclamations for 41 of California's 58 counties, and people in many communities are being asked to conserve water. Federal and state authorities have also reduced annual water allocations to farmers and cities in several areas. The cutbacks will likely remain in effect until winter rain and snow falls.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Michael Carlowicz.

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California Reservoirs Reflect Deepening Drought

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Precipitation totals and lake levels are among the worst they have been since the 1970s.

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Water conservation is the practice of using water more efficiently to reduce unnecessary water consumption. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as using water-efficient appliances, fixing leaks, and planting drought-tolerant plants.

Water conservation is important because it helps to protect our water resources and reduce our environmental impact. When we conserve water, we reduce the amount of water that needs to be treated and pumped, which can save energy and reduce pollution. We also reduce the amount of water that is lost through evaporation and runoff, which can help to protect our water supplies and ecosystems.

There are many ways to conserve water in our daily lives. Here are a few tips:

Take shorter showers.

Fix any leaks in your home.

Water your lawn and plants less often.

Collect rainwater.

Use a water-efficient washing machine and dishwasher.

Install a low-flow showerhead and faucet aerators.

Plant drought-tolerant plants in your yard.

Mulch your garden to help retain water.

Wash your car less often.

Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth or shave.

Fix any leaks in your toilet.

Install a water-saving toilet.

Use a broom to clean your driveway and sidewalks instead of a hose.

Water conservation is a simple way to make a big difference. By following these tips, we can all help to protect our water resources and reduce our environmental impact.

In addition to the individual actions that we can take, there are also many policy changes that can be made to promote water conservation. For example, governments can invest in water infrastructure, such as desalination plants and water recycling facilities. They can also provide incentives for people to conserve water, such as rebates for water-efficient appliances.

Water conservation is essential to ensure that we have a sustainable water supply for future generations. By taking action now, we can help to protect our water resources and ensure that everyone has access to clean water.

By Chat GPT

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Using water-saving techniques can save you money and diverts less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, which helps keep the environment healthy. It can also reduce water and wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and heat water. This lowers energy demand, which helps prevent air pollution.

It's not just the dry western areas of the country that need to be concerned with water efficiency. As our population continues to grow, demands on precious water resources increase. There are many opportunities to use household water more efficiently without reducing services. Homes with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances save about 30 percent of indoor water use and yield substantial savings on water, sewer, and energy bills. Start saving today.

Top Five Ways to Save

1. Stop leaks. Check all water-using appliances, equipment, and other devices for leaks. Running toilets, steady faucet drips, home water treatment units, and outdoor sprinkler systems are common sources of leaks.

2. Replace old toilets. The major water use inside the home is toilet flushing. If your home was built before 1992 and you haven't replaced your toilets recently, you could benefit from installing a WaterSense labeled model that uses 1.28 gallons or less per flush. A family of four can save 16,000 gallons of water per year by making this change.

3. Replace old clothes washers. Washers are the second largest water user in your home. If your clothes washer is old, you should consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer. Most ENERGY STAR clothes washers use four times less energy than those manufactured before 1999. To save more water, look for a clothes washer with a low water factor. The lower the water factor, the less water the machine uses. Water factor is listed on the certified product list.

4. Install WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads. WaterSense labeled products use at least 20 percent less water than standard models, while providing equal or superior performance. By installing WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads, the average family can save nearly 3,500 gallons of water and nearly 410 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

5. Plant the right plants. Whether you're installing a new landscape or changing the existing one, select plants that are appropriate for your climate. Consider landscaping techniques designed to create a visually attractive landscape by using low-water and drought-resistant grass, plants, shrubs, and trees. If maintained properly, climate-appropriate landscaping can use less than one-half the water of a traditional landscape.

6. Provide only the water plants need. Automatic landscape irrigation systems are a home's biggest water user. To make sure you're not overwatering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in the weather. Better yet, install a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller, which uses local weather and landscape conditions to water only when plants need it. Install a rain shutoff device, soil moisture sensor, or humidity sensor to further control irrigation.

For more information on how you can save water, visit EPA's Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Residences (PDF, 995 KB).

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Saving Water Helps Protect Our Nation's Water Supplies

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Using water-saving techniques can save you money and diverts less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, which helps keep the environment healthy. It can also reduce water and wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and heat water.

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Dry conditions in the area of Lake Mendocino in Mendocino County. DWR/2021.

Visit drought.ca.gov for water shortage assistance and information on drought-related financial assistance.

California is no stranger to drought; it is a recurring feature of our climate. We recently experienced the 5-year event of 2012-2016, and other notable historical droughts included 2007-09, 1987-92, 1976-77, and off-and-on dry conditions spanning more than a decade in the 1920s and 1930s.

Paleoclimate records going back more than 1,000 years show many more significant dry periods. The dry conditions of the 1920s-30s, however, were on a par with the largest 10-year droughts in the much longer paleoclimate record.

Droughts cause public health and safety impacts, as well as economic and environmental impacts. Public health and safety impacts are primarily associated with catastrophic wildfire risks and drinking water shortage risks for small water systems in rural areas and private residential wells. Examples of other impacts include costs to homeowners due to loss of residential landscaping, degradation of urban environments due to loss of landscaping, agricultural land fallowing and associated job loss, degradation of fishery habitat, and tree mortality with damage to forest ecosystems.

Unfortunately, the scientific skill to predict when droughts will occur - which involves being able to forecast precipitation weeks to months ahead - is currently lacking. Improving long-range weather modeling capabilities is an area of much-needed research.

Defining Drought

Defining drought is based on impacts to water users. California is a big state and impacts vary with location. Hydrologic conditions causing impacts for water users in one location may not represent drought for water users in a different part of California, or for users with a different water supply. Individual water agencies may use criteria such as rainfall/runoff, amount of water in storage, or expected supply from a water wholesaler to define their water supply conditions.

Drought is a gradual phenomenon, occurring slowly over a period of time. Storage, whether in surface water reservoirs or in groundwater basins, buffers drought impacts and influences the timing of when drought impacts occur. A single dry year isn't a drought for most Californians because of the state's extensive system of water infrastructure and groundwater resources buffer impacts.

Drought impacts are felt first by people most dependent on annual rainfall - such as ranchers using dryland range or rural residents relying on wells in low-yield rock formations. Drought impacts increase with the length of a drought, as carry-over supplies in reservoirs are depleted and water levels in groundwater basins decline.

Provisions of California's Emergency Services Act have been used to declare a statewide drought emergency for only two of our droughts, the 2012 to 2016 event and its immediate predecessor in 2007-09.

News and Updates

Join the Department of Water Resources for the second Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative meeting. Members of the public will be able to observe the meeting and provide public comments in-person at the meeting location or remotely.

Continuing California's work to support small communities through extreme climate shifts, DWR announced its tenth round of funding through the Small Community Drought Relief Program.

Over $217 million of state funds will be invested back into 44 local projects that will help communities adapt to a hotter and drier future thanks to grant funding provided by the Department of Water Resources' (DWR) Urban Community Drought Relief Program.

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California is no stranger to drought; it is a recurring feature of our climate. We recently experienced the 5-year event of 2012-2016, and other notable historical droughts included 2007-09, 1987-92, 1976-77, and off-and-on dry conditions spanning more than a decade in the 1920s and 1930s.

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Ecology is a vital discipline that deserves our attention and care for several compelling reasons. By delving into the intricate web of relationships among organisms and their environments, ecology unravels the secrets behind the essential services ecosystems provide, such as clean air, water, and food. It serves as a sentinel, alerting us to the critical importance of biodiversity for maintaining the stability and resilience of these ecosystems. Moreover, ecology is inextricably linked to human health, exemplified by its role in understanding and mitigating disease outbreaks. Sustainability hinges on ecological insights, guiding us toward responsible resource management. Beyond these practical considerations, ecology carries ethical and aesthetic significance, reminding us of the inherent value of all species and the enchanting beauty of our natural world. Thus, embracing ecology is not merely a choice but an imperative, as it underpins the health and well-being of our planet and all its inhabitants.

- chatgpt

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California Drought Resources

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Current state-level drought information for California: .

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Nearly every part of the U.S. experiences periods of reduced rainfall. Planning in advance for a drought can protect us in dry years.

Before a Drought

The best way to prepare for a drought is to conserve water. Make conserving water a part of your daily life.

Indoor Water Conservation Tips Before a Drought
GENERAL

Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, use it to water your indoor plants or garden.

Fix dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water a year.

Check all plumbing for leaks and have any leaks repaired by a plumber.

Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.

Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.

Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.

Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.

Choose appliances that are more energy and water efficient.

BATHROOM KITCHEN
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips Before a Drought
GENERAL

If you have a well pump, check it periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, your plants won't need as much watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs.

Don't install ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless they use re-circulated water.

Consider rainwater harvesting where practical.

Contact your local water provider for information and assistance.

LAWN CARE POOL
During a Drought

Always observe state and local restrictions on water use during a drought. Contact your state or local government for current information and suggestions.

Indoor Water Conservation Tips During a Drought
BATHROOM LAUNDRY KITCHEN
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips During a Drought
LAWN CARE

A heavy rain eliminates the need for watering for up to two weeks. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week.

Check the soil moisture levels with a soil probe, spade or large screwdriver. You don't need to water if the soil is still moist. If your grass springs back when you step on it, it doesn't need water yet.

If your lawn does require watering, do so early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.

Water in several short sessions rather than one long one, in order for your lawn to better absorb moisture and avoid runoff.

Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.

Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours.

In extreme drought, allow lawns to die in favor of preserving trees and large shrubs.

CAR WASHING

Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

If you wash your own car, use a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted down to a fine spray on your hose.

Associated Content

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Planning in advance for a drought can protect us in dry years. Learn what to do before, during, and after a drought. Before a Drought During a Drought Associated Content Nearly every part of the U.S. experiences periods of reduced rainfall. Planning in advance for a drought can protect us in dry years.