North state conservation projects stalled by state bond freeze
State funds supporting conservation projects around the north state have been slow to thaw following a bond freeze prompted by the state budget crisis.
Redding Record Searchlight article

Rice a highlight in farming community
Prices for medium-grain rice grown in the Sacramento Valley have increased, making last year a good one for rice farmers.
Chico Enterprise Record article

Drought assistance offered to farmers and ranchers
Farmers and ranchers in Central Valley counties and elsewhere in California with extreme or severe drought conditions may get help from the federal government.
Central Valley Business Times article

Fished out: Ocean conditions, Delta pumping lead to another dismal year for salmon
Commercial and recreational salmon fishermen face another year of fishing closures in ocean waters off California and Oregon, due to the collapse of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon population.
Sacramento News & Review article

Feds deny protection to California longfin smelt
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday announced that the longfin smelt, a fish native to the Delta, does not warrant Endangered Species Act protection.
Sacramento Bee article

Regional housing giant Pulte to buy rival builder, Centex
In a historic move by two of the capital region's largest publicly traded home builders, Michigan-based giant Pulte Homes announced Monday it will buy rival Centex Corp., headquartered in Dallas, in a $1.3 billion stock deal.
Sacramento Bee article

Brew that’s true: They don’t get much greener than Sierra Nevada Brewery
It’s hard to miss the giant solar array in the hops field next to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Composed of 10,000 panels, it’s one of the largest private solar arrays in the country.
Sacramento News & Review article

Panel seeks safeguards for smaller trees, too
Massaging an existing tree protection ordinance, the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission has proposed making the regulations stronger.
Chico Enterprise Record article

April 9-23, 2009 4:00pm
Go Green: Recycling Trash Show
Multiple dates, at multiple Sacramento
Public Library locations
Link

April 22, 2009 6pm- 9pm
Green Plumbing Workshop
1504 Market St. Redding, CA
Link

April 15, 2009 6:30pm-8:30pm
Farming Roundtable: Funding Opportunities to Protect Local Food Production- FREE!
Chico Grange Hall 2775 Nord Ave
Link

April 25, 2009 10am- 3pm
Redding Earth Day & Whole Earth Festival- FREE!
Redding City Hall and Sculpture Park
Link

April 17- 18, 2009
Shasta College Sustainability Conference- FREE!
Shasta College Main Campus Room 806
Redding, CA
Link

April 26, 2009 11am- 6pm
Sacramento Earth Day- FREE!
Southside Park Sacramento, CA
Link

April 29, 2009 6pm- 9pm
Water Wise Landscaping Workshop
Shasta College Downtown
1504 Market St. Redding, CA
Link

May 6 & 7, 2009
Great Valley Center's Annual Conference: 20/20 Foresight: A View of the Great Valley in a Decade
Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, CA
Link

If you have an event that could be included here, please email Lindsay@greatvalley.org with the information. Thank you!

The Great Valley Center is a non-advocacy organization. This newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, the Great Valley Center Energy Program does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the newsletter or linked articles. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.