Welcome to the Yolo County Climate Action & Sustainability Newsletter! We are excited to share updates from our climate action and adaptation planning (CAAP) process, countywide sustainability efforts, upcoming events, and sustainability resources as we work to meet our goal of achieving a carbon negative footprint by 2030.

We are on social media! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on our CAAP process. Updates on the CAAP process can also be found on our newly launched CAAP Portal at YoloCAAP.org.

If you have resources or events you would like to be featured on the newsletter, submit them via email to sustainability@yolocounty.org for consideration.

🌱 Yolo Sustainability is hosting the second round of CAAP Community Workshops this fall! Thank you to all who participated in the first round of CAAP Community Workshops back in June. These workshops provided an opportunity for participants to engage in preliminary conversation about needs, concerns, and priorities surrounding climate concerns within Yolo County. The second round of CAAP Community Workshops will dive deeper into specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction measures and adaptation strategies, garnering critical input from community participants. We will be hosting seven workshops located in Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland, Capay/Guinda, Dunnigan, and Clarksburg, throughout November. Free food and childcare will be provided for participants. We look forward to seeing you there and incorporating your feedback into our CAAP planning process. Our tentative workshop schedule is as follows: 

Confirmed Workshops: 

November 13th | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Winters Community Center | Winters Community Center - 201 Railroad Ave, Winters, CA 95694  

December 1st | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Woodland Public Library | Woodland Public Library - 250 1st St, Woodland , CA 95695  

December 2nd | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | West Sacramento | Lighthouse Charter Elementary - 899 Bryte Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95605 

December 8th | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Davis | Davis Odd Fellows Lodge - 415 2nd St, Davis, CA 95616 

Tentative Workshops: 

November 17th | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Dunnigan | Dunnigan Fire Hall - 29145 Main St, Dunnigan, CA 95937 

November 29th | 6 PM – 7 PM | Guinda/Western Grange Hall | Guinda/Western Yolo Grange all - 16787 Forrest Ave, Guinda, CA 95637 

December 4th | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Clarksburg | Clarksburg Bramch Library - 52915 Netherlands Ave, Clarksburg, CA 95612 

🌱 CAAP Survey Wrap-Up. September 30th, 2023 marked the official close of our 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Survey which was developed to guide future funding programs, policies, and recommendations to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, build more resilient communities, and protect natural resources. Yolo Sustainability collected over 900 responses that are being analyzed to further develop the 2030 CAAP. Thank you to all of those who completed the survey! 

The October YCCAC Meeting is a great opportunity to hear more about our 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and provide your input on critical components of our planning process. This month’s meeting will feature discussion on how we will frame our 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Attend in person at 626 Court St, Woodland, CA 95695 or view the Zoom link here to join our monthly meeting virtually. Click to view the Agenda and Meeting Materials. 

🌱 The Yolo County Sustainability Team has Expanded! CivicSpark fellows, Yuridiana Pantoja and Tess Vaccaro will be working with the Sustainability Team for the 2023-2024 service year. Yuridiana will be undertaking the project of Accelerating Equitable Electrification in Yolo County and Tess is working on Advancing Equity and Engagement in Yolo County’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). We are thrilled to have them on board and are looking forward to what is to come!  

Yuridiana Pantoja is a recent college graduate from CSU Bakersfield with a degree in Public Administration. She has a strong interest in water policy and related issues. Outside of work, she finds joy in hiking and practicing yoga. What truly excites her about CivicSpark is the opportunity to immerse herself in the sustainability field, learn from experienced professionals, and contribute to a meaningful movement that can create positive change in communities. She looks forward to the journey ahead and the chance to collaborate with like-minded individuals. You can contact her at ypantoja@yolocounty.org.  

Tess Vaccaro is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology. She finds joy in working with, learning from, and supporting vulnerable and marginalized populations and communities, giving them the opportunity and resources to lead and communicate their needs. She has a background in case work, outreach, and event planning and facilitation that she will be applying to this role. Outside of work, she loves to foster dogs (from neonatal to senior) from Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento! You can contact her at tvaccaro@yolocounty.org.   

🌱 Attention all highschoolers! The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) is hosting its annual Conservation Education Speak-Off Competition. Participants are required to prepare a 3–5-minute speech addressing questions surrounding groundwater recharge and compete in a public oration. Selected winners will receive a cash prize of up to $300.00. Submissions are due on November 1st, 2023 and the official prompt accompanied by competition rules and the required registration form can be accessed here. 

🌱 YoloSol Launch! Founded by Juliette Beck and Anuj Vaidya, “YoloSol cultivates place-based civic engagement and learning about issues of environmental and economic justice in Yolo County through storytelling, and creative nature-based and multimedia cultural activities.” Attention is especially placed on the voices and stories of marginalized communities (such as Patwin-Wintun), youth, and immigrant populations. Get connected to upcoming events and opportunities through signing up for their monthly newsletter at, http://eepurl.com/iBVCAg. 

 

Get to know Marissa Juhler, Director of Integrated Waste Management!  

Marissa Juhler began her educational journey at Sonoma State University, where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Planning. The skills and knowledge she accumulated in college equipped her to make her professional debut in the solid waste industry, working in the private sector for Waste Management, Inc. Her work pertained to the operational side of solid waste and recycling, providing her with the opportunity to (1) travel all over the United States gaining insight on how Material Recovery Facilities (paper pulping plants, metal smearers, etc.) function and (2) oversee twenty municipal contracts.  

It was during this time that she was presented with the opportunity to become Yolo County’s Waste Reduction Manager, which she enthusiastically accepted. She was soon promoted to Landfill Operations Manager and recently started her current position of the Division Director of Integrated Waste Management. 

To date, Marissa has accrued twenty-three years of experience in the solid waste industry- fifteen of those years serving Yolo County.  

When asked about excitement surrounding her line of work Marissa shared, “Everything excites me about this line of work. I was born and raised in Yolo County and feel that every day I get to do something good for our planet that positively impacts our environment and helps educate other Yolo County residents and businesses on how to do the same.”  

She finds herself especially drawn to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which is an innovative policy initiative that makes producers rather than local governments responsible for the end-of-life phase of products, promoting recycling and economic prosperity through the creation of new jobs in the recycling field. Her passion for waste reduction encouraged the opening of the Big Blue Barn Thrift Store at the Landfill, “…giving doors, windows, lumber, books, housewares, etc. a second life.”  

With respect to her personal life, Marissa values her family. She is a wife and mother of three beautiful and talented girls: “… a first grader who brings joy to all, an eighth grader who is an amazing pianist and artist, and a twelfth grader who is the current Pole Vault Champion at her high school”. The Juhler family are also animal lovers and have a puppy named Ellie and cat named Ash who was rescued out of the ashes from a lithium battery fire at the Landfill.  

Small Actions that Go a Long Way:  Compost – How to Decrease Your Emissions Footprint:  

Marissa is excited about community involvement and knowledge about the landfill, sharing information and tips to encourage composting in Yolo County for this month’s Sustainability Newsletter. The Yolo County Landfill is home to a robust composting program in which organic waste is transformed into nutrient-rich soil to sustain agriculture while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  

Organic waste refers to material that comes from a plant or animal and is biodegradable. Examples include food scraps (fruits, veggies, meat, bones, dairy, etc.) food soiled paper (i.e., pizza boxes), coffee grounds, and green waste such as wood chips, leaves, branches, weeds, and grass. It is important that these items be placed in organic waste bins/pales rather than tossed into the general trash.  

To ensure that waste is going where it needs to, the landfill has mobilized staff to survey County waste bins through their Flip the Lid Campaign! A quick peek inside allows for staff to assess whether items are correctly being sorted between trash, recycle, and organic waste and then provide feedback on how to improve habits to align with standards. Refer to these tips below to ensure your garbage is going in the right place! 

Helpful Tips:  

🌱 The term “organic” refers to food that is grown without interventions such as pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and artificial additives. However, it is important to note that when used in the context of compost, the term organic refers to ALL food products. For example, where the apple comes from doesn’t matter, the cores belong in organic waste regardless.  

🌱 Make sure that only food waste and food soiled paper is being placed inorganic waste bins. Plastic bags, casings, and wrappings belong in the trash!  

Want FREE Compost? 

Free Yolo County Landfill produced compost will be given out through October 31st, 2023. All you need to bring is a shovel, bags, and proof of residency. Come by anytime during the following hours: 

🌱 Mon-Sat 6:30 AM – 4:00 PM 

🌱 Sunday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM  

October 20 and 23    Common Ground Documentary | Varsity Theatre (Downtown Davis) – 616 Second St, Davis, CA 95616 | 3:45 PM 

Spend an afternoon at the cinema watching Common Ground, a documentary that, “... unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system.”  

Tickets go on sale the same day of the show.  Box office opens 30 minutes before the first show of the day, or you may purchase tickets online at Fandango.com 

October 21   Big Blue Barn Thrift Store Sale | Yolo County Landfill – 44090 County Road 28H Woodland, CA 95776 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

The Big Blue Barn Thrift Store at the Yolo County Landfill will be having a 50% off sale. Stop by and score on furniture, books, bikes, paint, electronics, housewares, and more!  

*FUN FACT: Former Director of Community Services, Taro Echiburu, furnished his entire apartment with finds from the Big Blue Barn! 

October 23    Yolo County Climate Action Commission (YCCAC) Virtual Meeting | 626 Court St, Woodland, CA 95695 | 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM 

Join us at the October YCCAC Meeting to hear more about our 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and provide your input on critical components of our planning process. View the agenda and meeting materials at the top of this email. 

October 28   Tree Davis Community Planting | Memorial Grove – 1546 Shasta Dr, Davis, CA 95616 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM  

Trap carbon in your community by volunteering and planting trees with Tree Davis! Sign up here to participate.  

October 29    Bike Pump Track Grand Opening | Community Park in Davis – 1405 F St, Davis, CA 95616 | 12:00 PM  

Pump it up at the new 9,000 square foot bike pump track! Created as a safe and secluded space for off-roading biking (suitable for both youth and adults) the track features loops, pathways, and turns. Its grand opening is on October 29th during the Zombie Bike Ride, so come dressed in your best costume.  

Select Sundays October – December   Cache Creek Nature Preserve Walks | Cache Creek Nature Preserve - 34199 County Road 20, Woodland, CA 95695 | 10:00 AM  

Walk on the wild side! Cache Creek Conservancy is pleased to announce that their Free Guided Nature Walks are back! Spend your Sunday mornings exploring the Cache Creek Nature Preserve alongside experienced and knowledgeable tour guides, Elize Van Sandt and Jim Herrington. To register for an upcoming walk and learn more about your tour guides, visit Guided Nature Walks 2023.  

November 14   Conference - Stewarding California’s Wet Years | Livestream can be accessed here or attend in-person at 1230 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814 (Sheraton Grand Hotel – Grand Nave Ballroom) | 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM  

The Public Policy Institute of California is hosting its 2023 annual Water Conference!  This year’s conference is comprised of three unique panels, (1) Preparing for Floods of the Future, (2) Harnessing More Water for the Dry Times, and (3) Policies for California’s Water Fortunes. The conference is FREE and will be taking on a hybrid format allowing guests to participate in-person or online. To register, visit the following link, PPI Registration.  

🌱 BeeLine - Yolobus. Buzz, buzz, the bee has arrived! Yolobus has recently launched a new on-demand micro transit rideshare service called BeeLine. Service zones include Knights Landing (going to/from Woodland), Winters (within Winters and to/from Davis and Vacaville), and Woodland (within Woodland).  

With BeeLine, you are in control. No more traveling to bus stops, as the shuttle will accommodate your schedule and come to you. Through downloading the free app or by calling (530)-402-2891, you can customize your specific pick-up and drop-off locations in addition to tracking the route in real-time as you ride! Keep a look out for the bright shuttle in your area and spread the word that the bee has arrived and is buzzing through the county by posting a picture to your social media with the hashtag, #Catchthebuzz. 

Travel sustainably and book a BeeLine ride today!   

 

 

🌱 Can Infill Development Save Cities? This YouTube video by City Beautiful discusses the environmental impact of vacant or underused parking lots, along with their significant potential to improve the current housing crisis and reduce carbon emissions.   

🌱 California just passed multiple climate change, energy and environmental bills. Click here for an LA Times summary of what was approved—and what was rejected.  

🌱 Nearly Five Years After Fires, Recovery in Paradise Holds Lessons for Lahaina. A California town rebuilt after wildfire destruction has become an attractive home for new and old residents, but challenges with reconstruction, and trauma, remain.  

🌱 The EPA is rejecting calls for tougher regulation of big livestock farms. It’s promising more study.  The U.S. EPA has denied two petitions seeking revisions of rules dealing with the nation’s largest animal operations, promising instead to establish a panel with representatives of agriculture, environmental groups, researchers and others to develop recommendations.  

🌱 New federal water pollution rule draws mixed reaction. The new rule redefines which waters of the United States are covered under the Clean Water Act, severely restricting protections for waters and wetlands throughout the country. 

🌱 Center for Land Based Learning – Youth Enrichment and Educational/Professional Development Programs. 

The Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program encourages high school students to dig into habitat restoration through real projects on farms, ranches, and open spaces. Hands-in-the-dirt experiences bring science to life and stimulate environmental stewardship connecting youth to real, tangible solutions for big problems like climate change and habitat loss. Through multi-phased fieldwork and associated in-class lessons, students build knowledge, perspective, and personal connection to the land. Each cohort is matched with a regional restoration project and participates in ecological field studies where youth discover careers and college opportunities in natural resource management and environmental science.

If you are interested in working with High School students while restoring native habitats, become a SLEWS mentor this season! Mentors are one of the most important components of this program - these volunteers help students accomplish the restoration work and inspire students by sharing their education and career paths. Read the Mentor Manual for more information on the mentor role and check out SLEWS Project Descriptions  for more information on project sites this year.

SLEWS Academy trains educators and natural resource professionals in creating meaningful, hands-on, habitat restoration focused programs for high school youth in schools and communities throughout California. Learn how your organization can connect young people to agriculture and the environment,develop new partnerships, engage your community, and use an established program model, the SLEWS program, for youth engagement with all the tools such as field day activities, evaluation, and outreach materials, already created for you. Interested in signing up, fill out an interest form! More information can be found in the info packet or by emailing the SLEWS Academy Manager at slewsacademy@landbasedlearning.org.

 

🌱 Now Hiring! Yolo County’s Community Services Department is looking to fill vacancies within the Integrated Waste Management Division. Open positions include Solid Waste Attendant (2023-00249), Waste Reduction Recycling Specialist (2023-00261), Landfill Operations and Waste Reduction Manager (2023-00185), and Supervising Solid Waste Attendant (2023-00250). Interested in applying? Visit, Yolo County Jobs.

🌱 Legislation Moving Forward . On September 17^th, a slew of California legislation pertaining to energy, climate, and the environment was presented before the legislature, resulting in the approval of a vast majority. Proposed (and approved) Senate and Assembly bills include requirements for big businesses meeting certain income thresholds to report carbon emissions, and initiatives as well as policy that supports clean energy, transportation, and infrastructure. Examples include the development of offshore wind farms, speeding up the process pertaining to the erection of electric lines, developing infill housing, integrating climate resilience lessons into school curriculum, electrifying school bus fleets, adjusting groundwater usage regulations, and more.

🌱 Big news and a bright future for California water. The Department of Water Resources’, Sustainable Groundwater Management Program, is funding 103 individual water sustainability and conservation projects throughout California. The projects are designed to enhance, improve, and redesign groundwater usage and storage placing emphasis on directly benefitting Tribes and underrepresented communities. They have awarded a total of $187 million dollars to 32 distinct subbasins and a composite list of the basins, organizations, and proposed plans can be found here.

🌱 Investing in the Future of Our Climate and Young Adult Population . The Biden-Harris administration has launched the American Climate Corps (ACC), which is a workforce training and service initiative designed to recruit and provide over 20,000 young adults (ages 18-29) with the skills and resources needed to secure careers in climate resiliency and clean energy. Through participation in the year-long service term, ACC members will engage in a variety of projects ranging from implementing innovative and efficient energy technology to restoring coastal wetlands and managing forests. Are you interested in joining, or know someone that is? If so, direct them here.