Natural resources and environment reporter

Paul Rogers

Paul Rogers has covered a wide range of issues for The Mercury News since 1989, including water, oceans, energy, logging, parks, endangered species, toxics and climate change. He also has worked as managing editor of the Science team at KQED, the PBS and NPR station in San Francisco, and has taught science writing at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz.

The last time rainfall totals in San Francisco were greater, Abraham Lincoln was president

Environment |
California storms: The past three weeks were the wettest in 161 years in the Bay Area

January 17, 2023 at 4:11 p.m.

The last time rainfall totals in San Francisco were greater, Abraham Lincoln was president

These 35 key figures sum up the destruction -- and the benefits -- of the atmospheric river blitz.

Weather |
California storms: The damage and the amazing deluge, by the numbers

January 16, 2023 at 3:29 p.m.

These 35 key figures sum up the destruction -- and the benefits -- of the atmospheric river blitz.

Trump and Newsom rules to protect endangered Delta smelt have curbed Delta pumping by nearly half since Jan. 3

Environment |
A 2-inch fish is limiting how much water can be captured for Northern California cities and farms

January 13, 2023 at 3:51 p.m.

Trump and Newsom rules to protect endangered Delta smelt have curbed Delta pumping by nearly half since Jan. 3

For the first time in more than two years, the majority of California is in moderate drought, not severe drought

Environment |
California’s drought has eased significantly due to heavy rains

January 12, 2023 at 7:39 a.m.

For the first time in more than two years, the majority of California is in moderate drought, not severe drought

Some Bay Area reservoirs are 100% full, as Oroville rises 97 feet

Environment |
California reservoirs are filling quickly, boosting water supplies after years of drought

January 11, 2023 at 3:19 p.m.

Some Bay Area reservoirs are 100% full, as Oroville rises 97 feet

"The key thing to keep in mind today is just to keep up with the weather, because it might change quickly. So just keep an eye to the sky."

Weather |
Bay Area tallies damage, girds for more rain after deadly atmospheric rivers

January 10, 2023 at 10:06 a.m.

"The key thing to keep in mind today is just to keep up with the weather, because it might change quickly. So just keep an eye to the sky."

San Lorenzo River hits second-highest level in 85 years, as Bay Area is soaked with another storm

Weather |
Major flooding in Santa Cruz Mountains as atmospheric river storm pounds Bay Area

January 9, 2023 at 10:19 a.m.

San Lorenzo River hits second-highest level in 85 years, as Bay Area is soaked with another storm

Oceanfront restaurants red-tagged, wharf indefinitely closed in beloved Santa Cruz County locale as another storm looms

Environment |
Capitola begins to dig out amid "absolutely devastating" damage

January 6, 2023 at 4:50 p.m.

Oceanfront restaurants red-tagged, wharf indefinitely closed in beloved Santa Cruz County locale as another storm looms

“It’s bad — hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” one business owner said.

Weather |
Capitola Village battered, wharf restaurant left stranded by supercharged storm surge

January 5, 2023 at 11:12 a.m.

“It’s bad — hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” one business owner said.

One-two punch? Hardly. Three "pineapple express" storms have hit the Bay Area since Friday, and two more are forecast by Monday.

Weather |
More atmospheric river storms are headed for the Bay Area. What that means for flood risk and the drought.

January 4, 2023 at 3:21 p.m.

One-two punch? Hardly. Three "pineapple express" storms have hit the Bay Area since Friday, and two more are forecast by Monday.

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