Environment

It doesn't compare to the number of fish that died there last year, but Thursday morning a Community Services District crew was on Laguna Joaquin picking up dozens of dead fish. Click photos for larger images.

Dozens of dead fish were skimmed from Laguna Joaquin Thursday in a lesser version – possibly with a different cause – of the fish die-off that occurred there 13 months ago. Read more » Read more » about Once again, fish die at Laguna Joaquin

The ongoing rehabilitation of Laguna Joaquin continued Thursday as bluegill and bass were added to the lake. The Community Services District funded this addition of 250 of each species after hundreds of fish were killed there last August, likely due to CSD use of chemicals to treat algae. Larry Shelton, a Rancho Murieta Association director who has been instrumental in the ongoing Laguna Joaquin effort, said the fish added this week will spawn when the water temperature rises another 5 or 10 degrees. About 500 catfish were added to the lake last October. Read more » about New fish stocking to help Laguna Joaquin

Shots of passing fish from the camera that was pulled from the Cosumnes River. (Click photo for larger image.)

Vandalism at the Cosumnes River fish ladder, probably Rancho Murieta’s signature environmental presence, has forced the Fishery Foundation of California to remove a $50,000 fish-counting camera from the river and to address concerns about whether the camera will return. Read more » Read more » about Fish ladder camera removed after vandalism

It was a beautiful day to be on the Cosumnes River, as this group found near Granlees Dam Friday morning. The weather forecast says the wonderful February weather will continue into next week, but with daytimes a bit cooler – in the 60s. (Click photo for larger image.) Read more » about A morning on the Cosumnes River

Late Monday afternoon at Laguna Joaquin was as pretty an almost-December day as you could hope for. The weather forecast for the rest of the week calls for more of the same, with high temperatures around 60. (Click photo for larger image.) Read more » about Autumn beauty hangs on a little longer

They could be rubies gathering in the palm of an old boulder at Riverview Park, but they're just autumn leaves. Here's a look at some other splashes of color in Rancho Murieta this fall. (Click photos for larger images.) Read more » Read more » about Rancho Murieta's jewels of autumn

Ten weeks after a fish kill left hundreds of fish dead in Laguna Joaquin, the Community Services District made good on the first half of its promise to restock the lake. Tuesday morning, with CSD and Rancho Murieta Association staffers on hand, Ryan Mahoney of Freshwater Fish of Elk Grove poured several barrels with 500 catfish into the lake. They'll be followed by bass, probably in several months, after the catfish have had a chance to grow. CSD paid Freshwater $2,000 for Tuesday's fish. (Click photo for larger image.) Read more » about CSD adds 500 catfish to Laguna Joaquin

Three dozen people gathered at the Rancho Murieta Association Building Wednesday night for the annual membership meeting of Saving Our Lakes & Open Spaces (SOLOS), which tries to influence development. They heard a presentation by Melinda Frost-Hurzel, physical engineer with the Cosumnes River Watershed Coalition. She spoke about the group’s work and the river, which faces a range of challenges. Frost-Wurzel said she visits Rancho Murieta often to participate in fish counts. Last year, she said, 1,247 salmon were counted on the fish ladders here. (Click photo for larger image.) Read more » about Cosumnes is topic at SOLOS annual meeting

The Community Services District has thrown the switch on its solar power system. In its first first month of operation, the wastewater-plant solar array, which also powers the CSD offices and warehouse, provided 95 percent of the power being consumed. A second CSD solar array, which will power the water treatment plant, is awaiting final SMUD approval. Read more » about Video: CSD is solar-powered (and saving money)