RockBlog
California's new water law changes the way we landscape
Posted by Alex Simons on Mon, October 12th, 2015, 12:32 pm
By Alex Simons, Graniterock Environmental SpecialistAnyone planning to spend money on a new yard or landscape should pay close attention to California’s new water use laws.Thirsty, non-native plants and lawns won’t make the cut.Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Water Commission revised the state’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinancein July to limit “high water use” landscape elements, including pools and most grass, to about 25 percent of a homeowner’s landscape area.The revised ordinance effectively bans grass ... Read More
Staying up late to count frogs
Posted by Alex Simons on Wed, August 19th, 2015, 1:19 pm
What kind of work keeps a Graniterock environmental specialist up at night?If you’re Alex Simons, sometimes you grab a flashlight and countfrogs to comply with the law.Alex recently joined with biologist Dana Bland to survey the federally threatened red-legged frogs at the Santa Cruz Sand Plant as part of Graniterock’s annual permit requirements from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.The frogs are most active at night, making it easier to observe them. The survey is ... Read More
Growing and Protecting Endangered Species: California Red-Legged Frog Habitat
Posted by Alex Simons on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am
Over the past fifty years, many state and county mining regulations and federal and state environmental laws have been created to protect and conserve local habitat and rare and endangered species. The California red-legged frog was designated as a threatened species in 1996. Its range is mostly limited to the Central California coast, from Marin County south to Ventura County. Ponds are a part of mining operations, and with the capability to create an ideal pond ... Read More
Wildlife Filmmaker Visits Graniterock's Santa Cruz Sand Plant
Posted by Alex Simons on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am
Lance Milbrand is an acclaimed filmmaker who has worked on a variety of projects including public relations films, corporate promotional videos and wildlife documentaries. He has had a wide variety of clients including NOAA, CBS news, BBC Blue Planet and National Geographic Explorer. New to Santa Cruz County, Lance was looking for opportunities to film amphibian species in the Central Coast Area. Graniterock said “Yes, we will” and offered Lance the opportunity to come to the ... Read More
Willows for Soil Stabilization
Posted by Alex Simons on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am
A bioengineered stream bank stabilization using terraces and willows on Zayante Creek done by FishNet 4C in partner with the Santa Cruz County and DFG.With winter comes the cool crisp air and the occasional unexpected erosion problem from heavy rains. Repairing an erosion gully or streambed can seem like a headache, however there is a natural remedy that requires little to no machinery to install: Willows.The willow species, Salix, has over 400 species of deciduous trees ... Read More
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