Alastair Bland • CalMatters, Author at Times of San Diego

A small waterfall flowing over moss-covered rocks in a lush, green forest.

‘Puddles and Ditches’: California Considers Protecting Wetlands From Trump Order

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters March 19, 2025, 10:30 a.m.

The Trump administration plans to alter the Clean Water Act’s definition of wetlands to exclude seasonal streams, ponds and pools.

Man standing on a dirt path beside a sloped embankment.

Life

Even in Wet Years, Wells Are Still Dry: Why Replenishing California’s Groundwater Is Painfully Slow

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Feb. 25, 2025, 11:20 p.m.Feb. 26, 2025, 7:10 a.m.

Mono Lake

Tech

Another Casualty of a Dry Winter: LA Won’t Take Less Water from Mono Lake

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Feb. 1, 2025, 8:36 a.m.Feb. 1, 2025, 8:36 a.m.

Coastal wetland with green marshland and calm water under a blue sky.

Trump Takes Step to Overhaul Delta Water Deliveries to Southern California

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Jan. 22, 2025, 11:20 p.m.Jan. 23, 2025, 8:08 a.m.

Palisades fire destruction

Crime

Critically Dry Conditions Stun Scientists as Wildfires Rage Across Region

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Jan. 15, 2025, 9:35 p.m.Jan. 16, 2025, 7:27 a.m.

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Fact Checking Trump’s Claim That an Endangered Fish Deprived LA of Firefighting Water

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Jan. 11, 2025, 11:40 p.m.Jan. 12, 2025, 7:18 a.m.

Aerial view of a port with a docked cargo ship and industrial facilities along a river.

Life

Unstoppable Invasion: How Did Mussels Sneak Into California, Despite Decades of State Shipping Rules?

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Dec. 1, 2024, 11:45 p.m.Dec. 2, 2024, 7:15 a.m.

Underwater view of salmon swimming among rocks, with bubbles rising to the surface.

Life

A Third Straight Year With No California Salmon Fishing? Early Fish Counts Suggest it Could Happen

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Oct. 31, 2024, 10:26 p.m.Nov. 1, 2024, 7:43 a.m.

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Is a New Plan for Delivering Delta Water Worse Than Trump’s Rules? Environmentalists Say Yes

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters Oct. 27, 2024, 11:45 p.m.Oct. 28, 2024, 7:15 a.m.

Mono Lake

Tech

With Mono Lake Rising Again, Ecologists Plead with Los Angeles to Stop Taking its Water

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters June 4, 2023, 11:00 p.m.June 5, 2023, 7:46 a.m.

Lake Mead

Colorado River Deal Reduced Deliveries to Imperial Farmers, But it’s a Short-Term Solution

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters May 28, 2023, 11:30 p.m.May 29, 2023, 6:43 a.m.

Buds on mango plant

Tech

Mangoes, Agave in the Central Valley? California Farmers Test New Crops as Climate Changes

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters May 14, 2023, 11:05 p.m.May 15, 2023, 4:26 a.m.

Lake Oroville spillway

California Lifts 15% Water Conservation Target as Another Storm Approaches

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters March 24, 2023, 11:45 p.m.March 25, 2023, 6:55 a.m.

Jared Davis with Salty Lady

Tech

No California Salmon This Year: Water Diversion, Drought Caused Fish Stocks to Crash

by Alastair Bland • CalMatters March 18, 2023, 11:15 p.m.March 19, 2023, 7:10 a.m.