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State Sen. Mike McGuire is in store for a jam-packed Tuesday! Our high-octane North Coast representative is gearing up for two public events that may be of interest to the seafaring and climate-minded folk among us. 

First, McGuire will host the Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum, also known as the California State of Fisheries hearing, at the State Capitol at 1 p.m. to discuss obstacles facing both the salmon and Dungeness crab fisheries. Details:

The 51st Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum, presenting the state of California’s fisheries, will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the State Capitol.

The hearing will examine the successes and obstacles facing California’s iconic salmon populations, detail the 2026-27 Dungeness crab season outlook, and discuss the potential impacts of this year’s Super El Niño on coastal and marine ecosystems. California’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, will also advance his annual report to those in attendance including Northern California Tribal councils and representatives from the commercial fishing fleet, environmental organizations, and the scientific community.

• What: 51st Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum
• Where: State Capitol Swing Space, 1021 O Street, Room 2200
• When: Tuesday, August 4, 1:00 p.m.
• Who: Attendees will hear the latest forecasts, data, and observations from California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, state and Tribal leaders, and representatives of the commercial fishing fleet, scientists, and environmental leaders.
  

The forum is open to the public and will also be live streamed on the Senate website: http://senate.ca.gov/. For more information, visit the Joint Committee Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee website at: http://fisheries.legislature.ca.gov/.

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A little later in the evening, McGuire will host a virtual town hall with regional weather experts to discuss the incoming “super” El Niño that’s shaping up to be the strongest in a generation, if not ever. The weather pattern, fueled by rising sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to bring extreme weather to the West Coast in the fall and winter months. 

A typical El Niño often results in a wet winter, especially in Southern California, whereas La Niña tends to bring drier conditions to the West Coast. A rare “super” El Niño, which happens every 10 to 15 years, tends to bring more unpredictable weather patterns, ranging from record-breaking tropical storms to extreme drought. Along with increased flood risk, a wet El Niño winter has the potential to fuel explosive vegetation growth, increasing fire risk in the summer months.

Interestingly, the El Niño Southern Oscillation — made up of both El Niño and La Niña — doesn’t seem to have as great of an impact here in Northern California, according to the National Weather service.

Armed with a panel of weather experts, McGuire plans to “separate fact from fiction” and give residents a clearer picture of what to expect this winter season. Details:

• What: Super El Niño Town Hall with Sen. McGuire
• Where: Watch live HERE
• When: Tuesday, August 4 at 6:00 pm
• Who: Sen. McGuire, climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain, Bay Area meteorologist Mark Tamayo, and leadership from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services