Jan 1 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Dhyana Levey Merced Sun-Star, Calif.

Environmental concerns this year reached new heights, not just in Merced County, but across the nation.

"Green" continues to be a buzz word, encouraging interest and participation in a dizzying range of facilities -- from universities to insurance companies.

Popular interest in recycling seemed to reach higher levels, as residents and businesses looked for creative ways to conserve water and energy.

Water conservation especially became an issue as water managers and farmers made clear the burden they shouldered in this critically dry year.

Low rainfall during crucial months combined with higher temperatures in the atmosphere -- creating a smaller Sierra Nevada snowpack -- led to what many farmers and water managers referred to as drought conditions.

The snowpack, measured December 17 at 30 percent of average, is supposed to feed the county's streams and reservoirs. And rain meant to replenish rivers and fields -- home to and a food source for wildlife, fish and livestock -- was in short supply.

Cattle growers had to irrigate their fields earlier and spend more money on feed instead of grazing their cows on natural land. Because of soaring demand and short supply, the prices of feed skyrocketed.

The Westside -- where typically less rain falls -- was hit especially hard.

By the end of March, the county knew cattle growers had lost about $7.2 million in feed costs. This led the county agricultural commissioner to request and receive a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Merced Irrigation District even stopped the irrigation season a month earlier this year in an effort to conserve water. MID and growers were forced to consider what would happen in 2008 if Mother Nature doesn't begin cooperating.

If the pattern of dryness continues, growers served by MID might find their normal water deliveries halved. They had to look at the prospect of groundwater pumping to satisfy demands -- raising concerns in the agriculture and residential communities regarding whether there will be enough water to go around.

However, storms moved in during mid-to-late December, raising hopes of more moisture to come.

Meanwhile, efforts to conserve a number of important resources became a priority for many institutions and businesses.

UC Merced made clear its efforts to save energy, showing off its thermal energy storage tank to tours of important visitors. The tank recirculates its 2 million gallons of water through an underground line extending through college buildings, cooling or heating each room.

County landfills reaped the benefits of county and city recycling programs, according to the manager of public works solid waste division. In October he announced the most recent numbers, which stated the county Solid Waste Regional Agency had diverted 8,169 tons to recycling during the fiscal year.

And the county did meet the state mandate this year -- just barely -- that demanded cities cut in half the amount garbage heading to landfills.

So, was this a good year for the environmental issues here in the county? Not if you throw San Joaquin Valley Air quality into the equation.

County residents and activists complained to the California Air Resources Board and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District about their health and comfort levels, which fell victim the Valley's bad air.

After a June air board meeting, the agencies formed a task force, including activists and business people, to examine the situation. At the meeting it had became clear that the goal of cleaning up the Valley's air by 2024 wasn't good enough for many Valley dwellers.

The Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition distributed disturbing information about the number of people who suffer from, or in some cases have died this year, from asthma.

Regulations to cut down on the Valley's pollution need to be more stringent, shouted activists and community members. Their concerns were expressed this year through vigils in Sacramento, Merced and Fresno.

And they can only hope that 2008 will hold more options to clean up the skies.

Reporter Dhyana Levey can be reached at 209 385-2472 or dlevey@mercedsun-star.com