Environmental coverage in California follows the science of the state's ecosystems, climate systems, air quality, biodiversity and the natural processes that shape one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. Reporting reaches Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose.
The state's first comprehensive forest and rangeland report tracks more than 50 indicators of wildfire, tree mortality, water, and wildlife habitat.
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November 5, 2026
Conservancy Protects 20 Acres of Riparian HabitatTwo new conservation easements in the Inland Empire permanently safeguard endangered bird habitat along local waterways.
November 5, 2026
CalRecycle Sets 1.03 Million Ton Plastic BaselineCalifornia's regulator adopted a lower single-use plastic baseline than industry estimates, cutting the first required reduction target.
November 4, 2026
Survey Finds 60,000 Insect Species in CaliforniaA statewide DNA barcoding effort has documented roughly two-thirds of the insect diversity researchers estimate lives in the state.
November 4, 2026
Court Voids Approval of California Carbon Storage ProjectA state court ruled Kern County's approval of the Carbon TerraVault I project violated the California Environmental Quality Act.
November 4, 2026
Feds Threaten California Coastal Program Over Oil, SpaceXA NOAA draft report demands state concessions on coastal environmental issues or risks withholding federal funding.
October 28, 2026
California to Store El Niño Rainfall in Underground AquifersThe state aims to mitigate future drought by using land-based basins to recharge empty aquifers.
October 28, 2026
California Launches Satellite to Track Methane LeaksThe new satellite doubles state monitoring coverage as federal reporting requirements face potential elimination.
October 27, 2026
Strong El Niño to Disrupt California Marine EcosystemsResearchers anticipate significant shifts in habitat and food availability along the Central Coast in late 2026.
October 27, 2026
Researchers Find Alkaline Waste Near California CoastScientists examine decades-old industrial waste barrels found on the floor of the San Pedro Basin off Southern California.
October 26, 2026
Alco Iron and Metal Pays $1.47 Million for Waste ViolationsThe company reached a settlement with California regulators over hazardous waste handling at three facilities.
Reporting here covers climate research and its findings, air and water quality data, ecosystem health, pollution studies, species population trends and the science of how California's natural systems are responding to change. California's size and ecological range — from coastal systems to the Sierra Nevada to desert basins — make it a frequent subject of environmental research and a setting where multiple distinct environmental stories run simultaneously. Wildfire behavior and its relationship to drought, vegetation and atmospheric conditions has become a central ongoing subject of environmental science coverage in the state. Water availability and the hydrological changes that affect the Sierra snowpack and its downstream effects generate sustained scientific coverage across every season.
