South County / Panoche

Biologist checks the lizard is good to go before releasing it. Photo courtesy of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

News Release

Blunt-nosed leopard lizards reintroduced onto the Panoche Plateau

Fresno Chaffee Zoo along with state and federal agencies release 10 lizards into the Panoche Hills.

Tumey Center South. Photo courtesy of BLM.

Prescribed burn scheduled near Tumey Hills Recreation Area

Event to take place May 18 and 19.

Contributed Articles

Long term closure of State Route 198 from Peach Tree Valley Road to Fresno County line planned

State Route 198 at Pine Valley Road will have one way traffic for three days.

Hollister High School environmental club participates in the parade. Photo courtesy of Hollister High School.

News Release

Hollister High named a green ribbon school

Staff wellness initiatives, the use of electric buses and the district’s adopt-a-tree program cited on application.

The earthen Hernandez Dam holds back 18,000-acre feet of water in the reservoir. Photo courtesy of SBCWD.

News

Hernandez Reservoir is 100% full but considered safe by agencies

The California Department of Water Resources’ Division of Safety of Dams says Hernandez Dam is operating as designed, releasing water for first time in many years.

Pollinator. Photo Carmel de Bertaut.

Wildfarmers: Planting for the Future: Pollinators, Wilderness, and People

Date/Time March 25, 2023 to March 25, 2023 09:30 AM until 12:00 PM Description Fun in the sun. Come one, come all. Picnic and plant in the beautiful Blue Oak meadows of South San Benito County. Saturday March 25, 2023 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join us at Wildfarmers along with Katie from US Natural

Photo courtesy of Caltrans District 5.

Contributed Articles

Caltrans announces updated timeline State Route 198 re-opening

Target date of a complete reopening is estimated to be early May 2023.

Blunt-nosed leopard lizard in Panoche Hills, San Benito County. Photo by Chad M. Lane.

News Release

Federal agency to close Panoche hills to vehicle traffic starting March 1

The Bureau of Land Management says the closure is to protect habitat for the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Contributed Articles

Long-term closures on Highway 25 and State Route 198 are in effect

Highway 25 will be closed in both directions from Lonoak Road to 198.

Clear Creek Road Washout. Photo courtesy of BLM.

Contributed Articles

Clear Creek Road closed due to storm-related damage

Vehicle access is limited at Condon Peak Campground.

Newly appointed COG directors Mindy Sotelo, Dolores Morales and Bea Gonzalez attended the Jan. 19 meeting in person. Photo by Juliana Luna.

Transportation

Hwy 25 realignment project begins in March

Caltrans will repair an earlier attempt at reconstruction which resulted in the road’s collapse. 

CA_FuelsTreatmentBoundary. Photo courtesy of BLM.

News Release

Bureau of Land Management seeks public input for new wildfire treatment program

Deadline to submit public comments is Jan. 20.

SBHS Board of Trustees at the board’s Nov. 8 meeting. Photo by Juliana Luna.

Education / Schools

Hollister High School AP scores, enrollment numbers recovering

Advanced Placement program prepares students for college-level coursework.

Sunset over Panoche Hills. Photo courtesy of BLM.

News Release

BLM Central Coast lifts fire restrictions

The agency manages about 300,000 acres of public land.

Santana Ranch homes under construction. Photo by John Chadwell.

News

COG Directors adopt state’s required affordable housing plans

Directors also discussed several current and future highway projects.

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