Protecting Forests for the Other California Gold: Lumber

The lumber industry has a long history in California. Sutter’s Mill, where the discovery that started the Gold Rush was made, wasn’t a flour mill or sugar mill; it was a sawmill.  Lumber’s Unfortunate Legacy Vast forests helped build and heat homes for the miners, the merchants, and the rest that followed, helping to turn…

CGS Geologists Assess Multiple Fire Burn Areas for Landslide Potential: 10-1-20 Update

Wildfires are a disaster that can spawn yet another disaster. Fire eliminates ground covering on slopes, exposing the soil underneath and making it more susceptible to debris flows. Such events can be catastrophic, as was the case in Montecito (Santa Barbara County) in 2018. David Longstreth, senior engineering geologist in California Geological Survey’s (CGS) Forest and Watershed Geology program, is one…

DOC’s Women in Science Making a Difference

Women In Science Day “The Department of Conservation is home to dozens of earth science experts and experienced, talented staff. From professional engineers, to geologists, botanists, environmental scientists, and more, DOC is proud many of our science-based positions are held by women.  I am proud of the contributions DOC’s women scientists are making toward helping California achieve…

New Year New Faces at DOC

A new year means new faces for our Faces of Conservation project. Faces of Conservation does just that. It puts a face to the work our staff do daily, often outside of the public eye. We are committed to employing top scientists, engineers, technicians, supervisors, and support staff and leveraging their talent to help balance…