Manylabs supplied Richmond High School students with air quality monitors like this one. Photo by Alec MacDonald. Are you careful about what you put in your body? Do you buy organic fruits and vegetables to avoid pesticide exposure? Do you own a reusab …
The mid-1970s were times of change for Bay Area car owners. New federal air regulations were beginning to take effect, eliminating leaded gas and prompting a flurry of proposals for vehicle inspection programs (now Smog Check). By the late 1970s, the n …
California has such a glorious climate that we can usually skip the forecast. Southern California? Mostly nice and sunny. Northern California? Aside from a few furious storms, much the same. But three straight winters of blue sky has been too much of a …
Safe Harbor: Rigging the Water Trail to Welcome Everyone Water recreation is a mainstay of Bay Area culture. And it’s about to become even more accessible. The San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail — a network of over 100 launch and landing sites for non- …
Road Test: Pilot Program to Explore Mileage Fee The California Legislature’s new law on road use may eventually lead to drivers paying for how far they travel. Senate Bill 1077, passed on September 29, will create a pilot program to test the potential …
Monitoring a Microcosm: Study Yields Valuable Air Quality Data Most people in the Bay Area have never heard of Forest Knolls, a small unincorporated community nestled in the San Geronimo Valley of western Marin County. However, it serves as a key site …
The Crystal Springs Regional Trail, which offers this view of Crystal Springs Reservoir in San Mateo County, received more than half a million dollars for improvements from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2012. Photo by Topher Simon, San Mateo …
When statistician David Fairley first joined the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in 1987, the agency was paying special attention to carbon monoxide, because the region’s levels of that toxic gas did not meet federal standards and threatened p …
The Faucet as Power Switch: Water’s Hidden Energy Consumption Most of us hardly think about it, but when we turn on the tap, we’re not just using water — we’re also using energy. And, if you’re like me, you’ll be surprised to find out how much. Statewi …
Resurgent Economy Likely to Lift Priority Development Areas The City of Berkeley has begun a 24-to-30-month planning process to pinpoint community goals for revamping the Adeline Corridor, one of nearly 200 Priority Development Areas (PDAs) throughout …