Environment

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.- Intero Real Estate Services of Santa Cruz is hosting its third annual "Taste of the Harbor," starting at 4:30 PM at the Santa Cruz Harbor on Thursday, September 9.  All proceeds will benefit O'Neill Sea Odyssey.

The event will involve a raffle, live music by local artists DANJUMA & ONOLA, and food and wine provided by harbor area restaurants and local wineries.

O'Neill Sea Odyssey (OSO) engages 4th - 6th grade youth with an education program in navigation, conservation, and marine science on a 65-foot catamaran sailing Monterey Bay, and in a shore-side education center. The program is free, and each group completes a community service project to participate. OSO has served more than 50,000 students.

Tickets can also be purchased directly at www.tasteoftheharbor.com.

MONTEREY, Calif- The City of Monterey has reported to the Environmental Health Bureau that sewage has spilled into the storm drain system along Pacific Street. 

The spill happened around 3:45 PM Thursday and is estimated to be as much as 70,000 gallons. 

The Monterey Municipal Beach will remain closed until samples indicate that the water is again safe for contact according to state guidelines.      

Check out the newest animals making themselves at home at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The new 7,000-foot special exhibition, "Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea," will introduce you to these amazing birds and their coastal wetlands.

This exhibit demonstrates how climate change is affecting ocean life. Along the way, you'll meet people and communities who are reducing their carbon pollution, and learn about the small changes we can all make to help the oceans.

Click here for more information.

The California Department of Food & Agriculture has relesed their final environmental impact report (EIR) for the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM).

The EIR determined that it was unlikely that the approaches in the LBAM program would cause human harm or environmental damage, and found that greater potential for human and environmental harm would come from widespread pesticide use by private parties and organizations in the absence of an LBAM program.  

The approaches evaluated include the use of moth pheromone, organically-approved materials, and sterile moths. The only two treatment methods being considered currently are the placement of pheromone twist ties on trees and plants, and the release of sterile moths. The sterile release project is the preferred alternative identified in the EIR. CDFA is not currently considering aerial applications of pheromone.

The EIR states that eradication is the goal.