Conservation

On Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation, Winslow Friday is preparing to surrender in his long fight with the federal government. The seeds of the conflict were planted four years ago when Friday shot a bald eagle out of a tree. His cousin needed a tail fan for an upcoming Sun Dance, the Northern Arapaho tribe's most important religious ceremony, and Friday wanted to help. So when Friday spotted the bird, he seized his chance. Charged with killing a bald eagle in violation of federal law, Friday had argued that the law hinders the practice of his religion -- a battle closely watched on the reservation.

The ocean off the Palos Verdes Peninsula has become one of the key battlegrounds in the long-running effort to implement a state law designed to create a network of habitats off the California coast to protect depleted fish populations. The contentious debate over the size of the marine habitat in the waters around Rocky Point is emblematic of the disputes and hard-fought battles that have been waged since the Marine Life Protection Act was adopted in 1999. The waters off the promontory are abundant with marine life and have long been favored by sport and commercial fishing crews.

The state Legislature finished with one piece of a multi-part water package Tuesday when the Assembly approved a bill mandating a statewide drop in per capita water use. Lawmakers were headed for another long night, with the Assembly expected to take up several other measures approved by the Senate in a midnight session Monday, including a massive water bond. "We are comfortable and confident that we will wrap up and we will have the votes," Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger went to a scruffy field in the San Fernando Valley on Friday to sign two pieces of water legislation passed earlier this week. The setting was the Tujunga well field of the San Fernando Valley aquifer, part of Los Angeles' water supply. One of the bills the governor signed establishes a statewide program to measure groundwater elevations. The other adds 25 state enforcement officers to track down illegal water diversions. Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the remaining parts of the water package in the coming days, including an $11.1-billion bond that will go before voters a year from now. Surrounded by state lawmakers and local officials, he informally launched the bond campaign.

In December, my colleague Suzanne Muchnic reported on the cleaning and conservation of Francisco de Zurbaran's 1633 "Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose." It's been among the greatest European still lifes in an American collection since 1972, when the Norton Simon Foundation acquired it. By chance, I happened to be at the Getty Museum's conservation labs shortly after the cleaning was completed, and the picture is even more astounding than before: Surface textures emerged from beneath varnish, slight compositional alterations made the display of fruits and vessels more weighty, newly revealed details directed the eye in surprising ways, spatial relations were brought into a new light.

Gazing out at the expanse of pristine, sun-kissed hills in Santa Clarita's Golden Valley Ranch, City Councilwoman Laurene Weste couldn't help but be moved. "It's gorgeous . . . a majestic, natural creation, and it's untouched," Weste said one recent morning while visiting the haven of open space just two miles from the city center. She spoke about the gift of greenery that would be bestowed on future generations. Then she pondered the question: "How do we get more?" To that end, the city of Santa Clarita has launched a full-court press to acquire and protect the wealth of unspoiled lands and wildlife sanctuaries that surround the Los Angeles County suburb.

Officials have created a nearly 190,000-acre preserve to protect tree kangaroos and other endangered species, after years of criticism for ignoring environmental issues, a conservation group says. The plan for a conservation area stemmed from an unusual agreement between the government and 35 indigenous communities to protect remote tropical forest, coastal reefs and mountains on the island of New Guinea. Leaders representing the 10,000 villagers have agreed to prohibit hunting and development such as logging and mining.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power commission unanimously approved new water rates Tuesday that will penalize residents if they don't cut water use by 15%. Many low-income users should not see a rise in rates, while some homeowners with large lots who don't conserve can expect bills to jump $11 a month, according to the DWP. The rates will go into effect June 1 unless the City Council blocks the move. Customers will have to use less water to stay within a base rate. If they are already well within that range -- as many low-income customers are -- their bills shouldn't rise, officials said.

The government of Rio de Janeiro state will build seven miles of concrete walls around some of the biggest slums in an effort to halt deforestation of the jungle surrounding the teeming city of Rio de Janeiro, officials said. Walls reaching 10 feet high will be built this year around parts of at least 11 slums, said Icaro Moreno, president of the state's public works department. Standing atop the Dona Marta slum, Moreno pointed to a 100-yard section of the first wall under construction.

As California struggles with drought, gardening and conservation specialists will gather today for the nation's first National Public Gardens Day to raise awareness of the importance of plant and water conservation. More than 500 public gardens across the nation will join in the celebration and host speakers who will discuss means of maintaining beautiful landscapes while still complying with water restrictions. In Los Angeles, National Public Gardens Day events will take place at Descanso Gardens, the Huntington Library and the Los Angeles Arboretum between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. "There's more emphasis on people taking care of their home gardens and [growing]