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San Joaquin Valley

California scientists look close to home to change understanding of risk assessment

Environment

In the world of risk management, the probability of disaster is often expressed as a percentage. But that’s not sufficient, scientists say now. And they’ve turned to an area of California, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, to explain just how badly current models work.

Stockton, Cal., to become the largest city to file for bankruptcy in America

Business, Economics and Jobs

The World’s Largest Environmental Cleanup has Problems

The World

NUCLEAR POETRY

Nuclear Poetry

The World

Little Fish, Big Problem

Maia Krache of member station KQED in San Francisco reports on efforts to get federal protection for the delta smelt, a tiny fish which lives only in California’s Sacramento/San Joaquin river delta. The fish is threatened by a reduced flow of fresh water into the delta. But many say releasing more water to save the […]

River Resurrection

The San Joaquin river in California is flowing again after four decades, which could help resurrect the salmon fishery. But not everyone is happy to see the river restored. Local farmers are worried that there will be a shortage of water for their crops.

The World

San Joaquin’s Salted Fields

Farmers in the famously fertile San Joaquin Valley of California are taking their land out of production because the soil is becoming too salty. Tamara Keith from KQED reports the farmers say the government should pay them for their loss.

The World

Drought in California: America’s breadbasket is going hungry

Environment

Agriculture is a $31-billion industry in California — no state is bigger for farming. But with California in a drought, state-enforced water rationing is forcing farmers to abandon fields and lay off workers.

The World

Immigrant life during the recession

Business, Economics and Jobs

In the first of a four-part series, The World’s Jason Margolis looks at the impact of the economic downturn on immigrant life here. California has roughly a quarter of the nation’s 12 million undocumented immigrants. And many work out in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley. When hard times hit, they have little to […]