California Feet
Keena Wiegert
California has been referred to as "America's Non-Smoking Section." This reputation came about when California became the first state in the country to ban smoking in nearly every workplace and in indoor public spaces. California's workplace smoking prohibition was enacted by AB 13 and became law in 1995 (Labor Code 6404.5). Restaurants were included in the ban, and bars, taverns, and gaming clubs were phased in by 1998. The law covers all "enclosed" places of employment such as public and private, therefore, patio or outdoor dining facilities may allow smoking. California's law is one of the most restrictive in the nation, a number of exemptions are allowed (see below). Many local jurisdictions, both county and state, have closed the exemptions through the enactment of local ordinances. In addition, gaming facilities not under the jurisdiction of the State (tribal casinos) are not required to comply, although many have chosen to do so voluntarily for the health of their employees and patrons.
Nearly a decade earlier (1988), California citizens voted in Proposition 99, the California Tobacco Health Protection Act. Proposition 99 increased the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack and funded one of the most successful statewide tobacco control programs in the nation. The California Department of Public Health's Tobacco Control Branch administers tobacco control programs in the State (smoking cessation, youth access regulations, etc.) through local lead agencies, usually municipal health departments.Nearly a decade earlier (1986), California banned smoking at all public school facilities, and prohibited smoking at licensed day care centers (1993). Smoking was also banned within 25 feet of outdoor playgrounds and sand boxes in 2003; smoking within 20 feet of the entryways and windows of public buildings has been prohibited since 2004. Some communities have enacted even stricter smoking bans: the city of Solana Beach banned smoking on its public beaches this year, becoming the first city to do so in the country. In addition, Pasadena has banned smoking at all public parks and golf courses.
In accordance with AB 1807, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was identified as a Toxic Air Contaminant on January 26, 2006. California then placed ETS on the Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) list of chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity. New actions to reduce public exposure to ETS are being taken as a result of these new declarations and findings. The City of Calabasas banned smoking in all outdoor areas aside from designated "smoking outposts," and, the Dublin City Council passed a resolution declaring ETS a public nuisance. Taking into consideration a high concentration of elderly residents in nursing homes, the City of Belmont is considering a similar action. In addition, proposals for restricting smoking in parks and beaches, outdoor areas, hospitals, college campuses, and multi-unit housing facilities are currently being debated throughout the state. Solana Beach, San Diego, Orange County, and Monterey have instituted smoking bans on some of their public beaches.
Despite these recent efforts, ETS exposure is still a problem in California. Millions of Californians smoke, and millions are still exposed. This is particularly true in private residential environments and private cars.
The first spring storm comes nearly three weeks after a cold weather pattern dropped more than 12 feet of snow across the Sierra. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the Northern and Central Sierra.
Resorts like Palisades Tahoe, northwest of Lake Tahoe, are looking forward to more than 1 1/2 feet of snow this weekend, especially since the snow year started abysmal at best. In January, snow totals across the Sierra measured around 25% of the average, but now are at 99% of the average for this time of year.
The extra feet of snow the storm could drop this weekend is good news for the snowpack, which cities and farms rely on as a frozen reservoir for water supplies as it melts into rivers, streams and reservoirs.
TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Workers clear train tracks as snow falls north of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a powerful winter storm on March 01, 2024 in Truckee, California. Blizzard warnings have been issued with snowfall of up to 12 feet and wind gusts over 100 mph expected in some higher elevation locations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama)
TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Vehicles drive as snow falls north of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a powerful winter storm on March 01, 2024 in Truckee, California. Blizzard warnings have been issued with snowfall of up to 12 feet and wind gusts over 100 mph expected in some higher elevation locations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: Men remove snow around their vehicles as snow blanketed Emerald Bay Road in Lake Tahoe, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: A train worker climbs aboard as snow falls north of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a powerful winter storm on March 01, 2024 in Truckee, California. Blizzard warnings have been issued with snowfall of up to 12 feet and wind gusts over 100 mph expected in some higher elevation locations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama)
TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 29: Snow accumulates on bicycles at a condominium complex at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Truckee hotel in Truckee, Calif., on Friday, March 1, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images) (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: A view of snow blanketed houses along Donner Lake in Truckee, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: A vehicle collided with a snowplow as snow blanketed roads in South Lake Tahoe, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: A snowplow clear snow from roads in Lake Tahoe, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: A UPS vehicle is seen as snow blanketed roads in Lake Tahoe, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times)
CALIFORNIA, USA - MARCH 1: A couple walk as snow blanketed roads in Lake Tahoe, California, United States on March 1, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
California's Sierra Nevada could see up to 10 feet of snow, which combined with powerful winds, blizzard conditions will make for life-threatening travel conditions at times through early Monday. Some locations could also experience power outages and tree damage because of the heavy accumulations.
The winter storm is pushing through much of the West now. Below is the latest radar showing rain and mountain snow from Orzelle in the Pacific Northwest, California, the Great Basin and northern Rockies. Heavy snow is coming down in the Sierra Nevada.
Not mincing words: Blizzard warnings have been issued in the northern and central Sierra through Monday morning. Winter storm warnings for snow and strong winds are also in effect for other parts of Northern California and for parts of the Rockies.
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. His lifelong love of meteorology began with a close encounter with a tornado as a child in Wisconsin. He completed a Bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then a Master's degree working with dual-polarization radar and lightning data at Colorado State University. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
The US Bureau of Reclamation today announced the first-ever Level 2a shortage condition for Lake Mead, the massive reservoir that supplies water to about 25 million people. That designation triggers more curtailments for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico, while California, which holds more senior rights, is not affected.
In mid-June, Bureau Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton gave the states a 60-day deadline to craft a deal, or face federally-mandated cuts instead. But the deadline has come and gone with no plan and no concrete consequences from the Bureau of Reclamation.
A century of deals, acts and legal decisions have carved up 15 million acre-feet between Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico in the Upper Basin, and California, Arizona and Nevada in the Lower Basin. Native American tribes hold rights to this water as well, and a 1944 treaty set aside another 1.5 million acre feet for Mexico.
The Metropolitan Water District has already implemented unprecedented watering restrictions for the 6 million Southern Californians who rely on the parched State Water Project, which funnels water from Northern California south and this year reduced deliveries to just 5% of requested supplies.
Despite many laudable programs and well-intentioned efforts, California lacks a full-fledged statewide strategy for conserving native freshwater species in the face of climate change. California needs a new approach.
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