Recreation

When a wall of flames raced up the hillside at Avalanche Creek on a recent afternoon, firefighters in Yosemite National Park had to act quickly. The giant Ferguson Fire was headed toward the south rim of Yosemite Valley, and if crews didn’t stop it here, the fire would open up on the edge of the park’s most beloved spot.

Spot quiz: Of the dozens of rivers that flow through California, how many are completely undammed? Answer: Just one. (Read on to find out which.) But that number would likely be zero, were it not for a law passed by Congress 50 years ago: the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Electric bike enthusiasts are not happy the Marin Municipal Water District is not allowing them to ride on Mount Tamalpais fire trails and are seeking a change in the agency’s code. The district has erected signs in the past several weeks underscoring that the bikes are not allowed. That has raised the hackles of those who ride the bikes. While the signs are new, the policy is not.

Thousands of tourists descend on Death Valley each summer to experience one of the world’s most extreme places at its most extreme. Compared with Terry Eddington, these people are amateurs. The National Park Service custodian is about halfway through her first summer in Death Valley, and she has already lived and worked through a July that may go down as the hottest month recorded on Earth.

Today [Aug. 10] , the Department of Water Resources (DWR) urged people to avoid physical contact with the water at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County until further notice and avoid eating fish from the lake due to presence of blue-green algae. Boating is allowed, but swimming and other water-contact recreation and sporting activities are not considered safe under the danger advisory announced today due to potential adverse health effects. A warning level advisory had been in place at the reservoir since July 19.

The “growth” industry has fueled Arizona’s economy – growth in houses, offices, and places to have fun. Consistent growth is possible, in part, because of prudent water management in the more populated areas of the state. But outside the population hubs, some water rights still are tied up in court, making it hard for developers to plan.

Facing mounting criticism for allowing Hollister Ranch landowners to keep 8.5 miles of Santa Barbara coastline largely closed to the beachgoing public, state officials indicated Thursday some regret about the controversial deal they quietly agreed to earlier this year.