A drought emergency banner hangs on a fence post at the intersection of Lost Hills Road and Malibu Canyon Road in Calabasas, Calif., on Feb. 4. After the State Water Resources Control Board allocated 5% to the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, the LVMWD enacted a water restriction that restricted their residents to water one day a week. Photos by Ali LevensWith native … [Read more...] about Las Virgenes Area Manages Water Restrictions from Low State Allocation
drought
Forged by Fire: Extreme Weather Events Threaten Malibu
An edited photo of the Santa Monica Mountains. Photo by Lucian Himes. Photo illustration by Ali Levens Interactives by Zack Born Drought. Heat waves. Wildfires. People who don't experience extreme weather events might view them as abstract and otherworldly. But the lines between abstract threat and immediate danger have repeatedly blurred for Pepperdine University and the … [Read more...] about Forged by Fire: Extreme Weather Events Threaten Malibu
Woolsey Scars Show Ecological Recovery, Even as Fire Frequency Rises
While fire may be a natural cycle of the Santa Monica Mountains, short-term plant life recovery is not. “If you’re interested in Mediterranean ecosystems, you’re interested in fire,” said Marti Witter, a fire ecologist with the National Park Service. The Santa Monica Mountains are part of California’s natural chaparral environment. Shrubs with large leaves dominate the … [Read more...] about Woolsey Scars Show Ecological Recovery, Even as Fire Frequency Rises
Uncovering the Biology Behind the Woolsey Fire
Photo by Jenna Gaertner In the afternoon of Nov. 8, the Woolsey fire began its rampage on the Santa Monica Mountains. A combination of high winds, low humidity and drought conditions led to the burning of over 800 structures and almost 100,000 acres, which included 83 percent of Santa Monica Mountain federal parkland, according to CAL FIRE and the LA … [Read more...] about Uncovering the Biology Behind the Woolsey Fire
When it Rains Los Angeles is Floored
Graphic by Nate Barton I have friends from across the United States who enjoy the rain. They make a cup of their favorite coffee or tea, put on a cozy sweater and blanket and then sit on a covered porch and enjoy the atmosphere. They’ve created a wonderful memory of the rain that will last them a lifetime. Being from Los Angeles, this is not my experience at all. It's … [Read more...] about When it Rains Los Angeles is Floored