By Robert Kuo, Sacramento Bee

The leaves atop giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada are better at storing water than those closer to the ground, an adaptation that may explain how their treetops are able to survive 300 feet in the air, researchers at American River College and Humboldt State University have found.

“It can take over a week for water to get from the ground to the top of the tree,” says Alana Chin, who led the study and is an instructor at American River College in Sacramento. “When you’re that tall of a tree, you’re under tremendous water stress.”

Chin and her colleagues used ropes to climb the trees and collect samples. They found that leaves higher up the tree have less surface area and more transfusion tissue compared to leaves near the trunk. These traits give leaves more succulence, or ability to store water, which serves as a buffer against a water deficit that would otherwise damage the shoot system.

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By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal

FanDuel and DraftKings, the largest daily fantasy sports operators in the country, are angling to return to the Nevada market and a representative will make a presentation to the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee next week.

Scott Ward, a public policy attorney with the Washington-based Orrick law firm, is expected to address the committee Tuesday on proposed legislation establishing a framework for regulating daily fantasy sports in the state.

FanDuel and DraftKings abandoned the Nevada market in October when regulators and Attorney General Adam Laxalt issued an opinion that daily fantasy sports is a form of gambling and that game operators are required to be licensed.

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Woodcutting permits on the Eldorado National Forest have been changed to allow larger standing dead conifer trees to be cut for firewood.

This will allow for removal of potentially dangerous roadside hazard trees.

Forest Service permits are available for harvesting a variety of forest products for personal use including firewood, cones, decorative forest greens, boughs, and mushrooms.

The new fuelwood permits on the Eldorado National Forest allow removal of standing dead softwood trees such as pine, fir, and cedar up to 20 inches in diameter at eye level which is an increase from the previous 10 inch diameter limit. The size limit for dead standing hardwood trees such as oak is still 10 inches in diameter at eye level. There is no diameter limit in the fuelwood permit for dead trees that have already fallen to the ground, either softwood or hardwood species.

Woodcutting permits can be purchased year round, however the wet season closure of native surface roads will limit access when in effect. There is also no cutting of standing dead trees from Dec. 1-Marh 31 to prevent accidental cutting of live deciduous trees which may look dead when they lose their leaves.

Any dead tree that has already fallen to the ground may be cut year round with a permit provided that legal access is possible. All fuelwood permits expire on Dec. 31 of the year purchased.

For more info, call 530.295.5699.

By Devon O’Neil, Outside

When Vail Resorts announced this month its plan to buy Whistler Blackcomb, the Canadian ski resort, you could almost hear the sound of 10 million jaws dropping. It wasn’t Coke buying Pepsi, but to skiers and snowboarders and anyone who follows the balance of snowsports power, it was close.

For years, the only North American resort that has attracted more skier visits than Vail Mountain has been Whistler Blackcomb. Vail’s 5,289 skiable acres sounds like a lot. In fact, until last year’s merging of two other ski areas Vail Resorts recently bought, Park City and Canyons in Utah, it was by far the most in America. But Vail’s size is a mere 65 percent of Whistler Blackcomb’s 8,171 skiable acres.

A healthy ski industry is good for the towns and regions that host it, good for the people who work in it, and, most importantly, good for everyone who hopes their great-grandchildren get to enjoy this most fulfilling pastime of sliding downhill on snow.

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Katerina Nash, who trains in Truckee, will compete in mountain biking in Rio on Aug. 19. Photo/Clif Bar & Company

By Chris Murray, Reno Gazette-Journal

Atlanta. Nagano. Salt Lake City. London.

It sounds like a nice list of cities to travel to while on vacation. But for former Wolf Pack star Katerina Nash, it’s the list of Olympic Games she has participated in. And come Saturday, you can add Rio to the list. Nash, who lived in Truckee from 2000-13 and still trains there, will compete in her locally unparalleled fifth Olympics this weekend. It will be her third Summer Games to go with two Winter Games appearances.

Nash’s Olympic career has spanned a ridiculous 20 years, her first appearance coming in Atlanta at age 18 and what will likely be her last Olympics coming in Rio at age 38. Both of those appearances were in mountain biking, but Nash also added two Winter Olympic appearances in Nordic skiing in between.

Nash, one of 30 in the field for the cross country mountain bike, is one of the world’s most experienced active Olympians. She’ll toe the line for her 11th event in her five Olympics appearances Saturday at 8:30am. When she does so, she’ll be just as nervous in Rio as she was in Atlanta, which marked her first trip to America.

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Camels, ostriches and zebras return to historic Virginia City for the 57th annual International Camel & Ostrich Races on Sept. 9-11.

This year’s event includes a family fun zone and activity center. The fun zone opens at 10am daily, with racing starting at noon.

The event is at the Virginia City Arena and Fairgrounds on F Street.

New this year is kids’ ticket pricing on Sept. 9 — $8. On Sept. 11 the first 100 kids in line get a free camel ride courtesy of Dolan Auto Group. Tickets and more information are available online.

The severity of the fire in Great Basin National Park is partially being blamed on climate change and past management practices. Photo/National Park Service/Gretchen Baker

By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal

In addition to one human fatality the Strawberry Fire in Great Basin National Park has burned thousands of acres of wildlife habitat.

Park officials are just now beginning to survey damage from the lightning-caused fire that’s burned 4,600 acres and resulted in the death of a firefighter who was struck by a falling tree.

The fire three miles northwest of the park visitor center is 76 percent contained and full containment is expected by Friday.

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By Kathryn Reed

Dogs and porcupines are not a good combination. Seldom does the dog win.

There have been several reports of dogs with muzzles full of quills in the Truckee marsh area of South Lake Tahoe.

However, area veterinarians say this is normal every summer, even though some residents in the area believe it’s more rampant this year.

“It is a technique to get them out. Some people pull them out and that is very painful for the dog,” Brenda Daly, veterinarian assistant at Carson Tahoe Veterinary Hospital in Carson City, said of the quills. She said it’s best if the dog is sedated for removal of the quills.

Her facility gets emergency cases from the South Shore, Incline Village and other areas around the lake.

“It can be really painful for them,” Daly told Lake Tahoe News. “It is annoying for them; they paw at the face.”

When dogs interact with porcupines it can be painful for the canine. Photo/Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care

Teresa Sullivan, a nurse at Sierra Veterinary Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, said the number of dogs coming in with quills is about the same as most summers, and she’s been here for 30 years.

At least a few dogs a month are seen at each of the various vet offices in the region. Early morning and dusk seem to be when most of the encounters occur.

The offices said it can be an expensive procedure to remove the quills. The time involved depends on how many there are and how deep.

“Often dogs that get quilled by porcupines are dogs that it’s happened to repeatedly. Either they are not enclosed properly or they are let out early,” Sullivan told Lake Tahoe News.

El Dorado County Animal Control only gets involved if the dog is a stray.

Cheryl Millham, founder of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, said if people would abide by the leash laws or have command of their dogs, there wouldn’t be canine-porcupine interactions.

“Their tail is one of their major defense mechanisms. They can swish fast and drive quills real deep,” Millham told Lake Tahoe News.

She said porcupines are slow and don’t attack, but they will defend themselves. Millham added that when people see one, to just give it space and walk by.

Most of the porcupines her animal rehab center has cared for have come from the Tahoe Mountain and Fallen Leaf Lake areas.

Truckee Wolverine Booster Club is looking for help to raise money all Truckee High School sports teams, clubs and classes.

One of the largest ongoing fundraising activities for boosters is selling food and drinks at the school’s football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball and baseball games.

Winter and spring teams, and clubs will work the football and volleyball games starting the week of Aug. 26.

Aug. 18 is Wolverine Day at Truckee High School. It’s an opportunity to purchase merchandise and a booster membership, which allows entry to all regular season Truckee High football, volleyball and basketball games.

For more info, email truckeehighboosters@yahoo.com.

2012 BMX Olympic bronze medalist Donny Robinson (No. 10) competes in South Lake Tahoe on Aug. 13. Photo Copyright 2016 Dale Roberts

By Dale Roberts

California Points Qualifier at Bijou Bike Park proved South Lake Tahoe is an up and coming venue in the world of BMX racing.

More than 300 riders from all over the state competed in the fast-paced, high-action cycling event on Aug. 13.

Crashes are fairly routine in BMX races. Photo Copyright 2016 Dale Roberts

The main event of the day was the Tangent Pro-Am series with a $2,000 purse attracting top pros, including 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Donny Robinson.

Youngsters get an early start in the Strider race. Photo Copyright 2016 Dale Roberts

The riders raced in elimination heats with as many as eight on the track at a time. Shoulder-to-shoulder they sped around banked turns, over rollers, and flew off tabletop jumps. Each heat lasted 30-40 seconds, with the following heat starting as soon as the previous riders crossed the finish line.

The action only slowed down to clear the track of crashes, of which there were many.

A BMX rider has his eyes fixed on the next feature. Photo Copyright 2016 Dale Roberts

BMX attracts riders of all ages, some as young as the “Diaper Derby” riders of 2 and 3 year olds on their Strider bikes, to athletes in their 50s; all separated into corresponding age groups so everyone races against their peers.

Of the pro-am riders, Jordan Miranda of Bakersfield took the top spot. For a complete list of results, go online.