Sheila Pell

1 week ago | sandiegoreader.com | Sheila Pell

Almost every community in San Diego has seen an increase in tree canopy over the last decade, officials say. The latest analysis of the city’s urban forest has found that as of fall 2021, overall coverage is 15 percent — up two percent compared to 2014. It's still a long way away from the city's goal of 35 percent canopy by 2035, but the trend is going in the right direction.

2 weeks ago | sandiegoreader.com | Sheila Pell

It was not the average “big bang” squid run off La Jolla last fall, as scientists sometimes call it when the normally large spawning groups turn up in extra large numbers. And while breeding typically lasts only a few days, this run lasted three weeks. Squid runs don't happen every year. One likely reason for the surge was the shift from El Nino to La Nina weather patterns that brought cooler, nutrient-rich waters to the West Coast.

3 weeks ago | sandiegoreader.com | Sheila Pell

Escondido’s moratorium on new battery storage sites will stay in place. What began as a temporary pause after a fire last October was extended in November for up to 10 months and 15 days. At a meeting last week, the city council could have ended the urgency ordinance but instead voted 5-0 to maintain the ban on new sites while continuing to study land-use and safety regulations, including a citywide cap on the number of commercial battery energy storage sites.

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Sheila Pell

A new report by University of California researchers warns that it’s time to get serious about dust storms. Historical records suggest the state’s dust emissions are now higher than ever, while the forecast points to increasing dustiness and a rising toll on public health, the environment and farming. Windblown soil is a feature of the state’s desert lands, and it can wind up in oceans, mountains and valleys thousands of miles away, scientists say.

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Sheila Pell

Carlsbad residents pay less for water than other cities around the county, but rates are about to jump. A 20 percent increase in July will add $25.30 to the average customer bill, with more to come. The Carlsbad City Council voted 4-1 last week to raise rates for water, sewer and recycled water that will bring additional increases in Jan. 2026 and 2027, for a total of $61.75, or 49% over the current rate.