This week's record high temperatures have officials concerned about 'considerable' drought

State officials released a statement that expresses their renewed concern about early snowpack melt. Capital Public Radio shared pieces of the report:

"In the core western drought areas of California and western Nevada, dry, warm weather during the period resulted in no change to this week’s drought depiction," reports the U.S. Drought Monitor in its update released Feb. 18. "While much of the region has experienced favorable precipitation during the 2015-16 Water Year - and subsequent removal of the "S" (short-term) drought Impact Type - considerable long-term (L) impacts remain."

The weekly update also says "there are notable pockets of short-term dryness over central and southern California contributing to the long-term drought signal."

The Drought Monitor intensity levels are Abnormally Dry, Moderate, Severe, Extreme and Exceptional drought.

This week in California: 99.7 percent is abnormally dry, 94 percent moderate, 81 percent severe, 61 percent extreme and 38 percent is in exceptional drought.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Sacramento Bee editorial calls on Governor to remove all of his appointees to Coastal Commission

After his appointees led a highly-criticized push last week to remove the California Coastal Commission's executive director, the Sacramento Bee editorial board is calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to remove all four of his appointees in order to protect the integrity of the agency that oversees protection of more than 1,100 miles of coastline. The newspaper also called for speedy passage of new legislation aimed at improving the transparency of the agency's dealings with lobbyists and consultants representing development interests:

"The public may never get the whole sordid story on the California Coastal Commission’s firing last week of its executive director, but it’s not too late to insist that the powerful land-use board – and the consultants who make millions lobbying its members – be subjected to future transparency.

"The Coastal Commission, which was created shortly before the state’s 1974 Political Reform Act, isn’t explicitly included in state laws covering lobbying disclosures. Why not? That’s another mystery in what seems to be a whole stretch of murky commission waters ...

"Speaking of which, Gov. Jerry Brown, who has four appointees, should seek new commissioners. The current group may have had their concerns, but threw the public’s business into turmoil by letting the management of Lester degenerate into a political mugging. Until the governor gets the blood out of the water, public confidence won’t be restored."

Proposal will vastly increase protected land around Los Angeles region and San Fernando Valley

The National Park Service yesterday transmitted to Congress its preferred alternative for a massive expansion of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area. The so-called Rim of the Valley project could result in a 170,000-acre addition to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. surrounding the San Fernando Valley, greatly increasing access to nature for millions of poeple in this densely-populated area. Here's a map of the proposed increase:

The National Park Service has even more information on the Rim of the Valley project.

Obviously, there's a great opportunity here for the greater Los Angeles area to connect millions of people with the natural world. We at Audubon California have been highly supportive of this, and we'll be tracking it moving forward.

Assembly Bill 2002 will monitor lobbying of California Coastal Commission

Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara co-sponsored Assembly Bill 2002 that will provide oversight on California Coastal Commission lobbying. This bill was in response to the frustration legislatures felt over the recent firing of the Commission's executive director Charles Lester. Read more in-depth in this Sacramento Bee article.

'Disgrace' isn't a strong enough word to describe Coastal Commission meeting, says LA Times columnist

Columnist Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times says that "disgrace" isn't a strong enough word to describe last week's Coastal Commission meeting, which saw the appointed body fired Executive Director Charles Lester. It's a strong piece.

New monuments are super cool -- and Elf Owls

As we prepared our statement yesterday lauding the President and Sen. Dianne Feinstein for ushering in three new national monuments in the California desert, we noticed one bird among many on the list: the Elf Owl. Sure, the other birds affected by this decision are impressive -- Golden Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, Vermillion Flycatcher, Least Bell's Vireo, and so on -- but the Elf Owl is unique. Turns out the Elf Owl is among the world's smallest owls, just about the same size as a sparrow. It maxes out at about six inches long. It weighs about 1.4 ounces, making it the lightest owl. The northernmost edge of this bird's range is in the new Mojave Trails National Monument, but good luck seeing them. This is about the hardest place to bird in the Lower 48 and, oh, the bird is nocturnal.