John W. Robinson, Southern California mountain man extraordinaire, died April 24 at age 88. No one did more to make us aware of what the Southland high country has to offer.

Robinson’s “Trails of the Angeles” -- a guide to 100 hikes in the Angeles National Forest – was first published in 1971 and had sold 80,000 copies by the 100^th anniversary of the forest in 1993. A companion book, “San Bernardino Mountain Trails,” had sold 70,000 copies at that point.

Glendale Water and Power is proposing to spend $500 million to expand the aging and polluting Grayson Power Plant in the town of Glendale. At a time when the rest of California is moving towards 100% clean energy, the agency stands out for its backward looking energy proposal. 

We won’t let L.A.’s recycling plan get trashed

Sierra Club joined more than 200 activists in early March to urge L.A. city leaders to maintain a new recycling plan for apartments and businesses.

Is Earth Day still relevant? Coming up on its 48th anniversary, the day dedicated to celebrate the planet may not seem so relevant as it once was. We're all recycling, right? Here are 10 reasons Earth Day is as important as ever. 

These reasons are all related, so working on even one or two of them can help a broader area of concerns. You may be surprised, that recycling is itself a method of last resort to protect the environment. Finding ways to reduce the waste stream beforehand are better yet. 

1. The world's children

Here are activities happening in and around Earth Day.

Come celebrate the planet and spread the word about sustainability and conservation. Sierra Club needs volunteers to help at several events below. Contact angelica.gonzalez@sierraclub.org to find out more.

Zero Waste Fair Expo
1 to 3 p.m., April 7
Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles

You can be one of L.A’.s leaders in restoring more vibrant, natural habitat that invites wildlife into backyards, front yards, multifamily residences, and public places in the Upper Ballona Watershed.

Let's imagine natural flowing water throughout much of the L.A. Basin. It's not such a far-fetched idea. The watershed of Ballona Creek encompasses 130 square miles, from Griffith Park and Mulholland Highway to Westchester and South LA, to Dodger Stadium and USC. But almost all the creek and its tributaries are in concrete channels, and much of it is buried in underground storm drains. All that can be changed.