Upcoming conferences and workshops added to the calendar
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2012 at 8:07 amHere are some workshops I’ve added to Aquafornia’s calendar:
On February 24, the University of California at Riverside will hold a workshop on Southern California Groundwater & Climate Change, which is presented by the Water Policy and Science Center & the Center for Conservation Biology at UCR. Admission is free. Registration forms are due by February 15th. Click here for more information.
The Department of Fish and Game will hold its annual salmon status update and outlook meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency, 404 Aviation Blvd. in Santa Rosa. Click here for more information.
The Salmonid Restoration Federation will hold the 30th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Davis, California on April 4th through the 7th. There will be full-day workshops, field tours, and a wide range of technical, biological, and policy-related concurrent sessions. For more information, click here.
The O.C. Water Summit is scheduled for May 18th in Anaheim. This annual event brings together water industry stakeholders, business professionals, elected officials, environmentalists, scientists and community members to discuss ongoing state water issues. Click here for more information.
Weekend wrap-up: Delta issues take center stage, Saltworks developer considers desalination, and Russian River growers plan to voluntarily comply with frost regs, plus a look at the calendar for the week ahead!
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:55 am
Here’s your weekend wrap-up, plus a look at upcoming events this week in California water:
On Saturday, the Visalia Times-Delta reported on our dismal snowpack, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says that many Russian River grape growers plan to voluntarily comply with the new frost protection rules, and the Saltworks developer is considering desalination to supply the Redwood City project, says the Mercury News. Alex Brietler has more from the striped bass meeting, Restore the Delta says the Delta Plan is an ambitious document with some major flaws, and Barry Nelson takes a look at Southern California Urban Water Management Plans in his post at the NRDC Switchboard.
Super Bowl Sunday was short on news, big on commentaries, beginning with the County of Glenn joining the chorus of criticism on the Delta Plan. Then, Randy Fiorini of the Delta Stewardship Council says two San Joaquin County Supervisors nostalgic trip down the Delta drifts too far from the facts, Michael Fitzgerald penned a column on the Delta’s identity crisis, Mark Lubell weighs in on the Delta’s anonymity, and the Sacramento Bee says the water bond is going to sink if it doesn’t get shrunk.
Those are the highlights, but to get all the news, you’ll need to go back through the scroll.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: Most read news story was the Fresno Bee’s coverage of Westlands $1 Billion lawsuit against the feds; the Capital Press coverage of the water bond delay and the Record’s story about the 78% of Californians that are clueless about the Delta round out the top three. Top commentaries were the Manteca Bulletin’s commentary on the Delta Stewardship Council and the San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial saying there’s no need to rush on the BDCP. Also popular last week, this response by scientists on the Cadiz project, and the press release regarding the Delta Protection Commission’s Economic Sustainability Plan. Top blog posts go to the Public Water News Service on Delta exports and Restore the Delta’s post on the BDCP public meeting.
WHAT’S ON THE CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK? The State Water Board meets on Tuesday. The financing workgroup for the BDCP will meet on Tuesday; the BDCP’s Yolo Bypass Fishery Enhancement Team will meet on Friday. The Delta Conservancy continues its meetings collecting public input on its Strategic Plan with meetings on Tuesday afternoon in Antioch and Thursday afternoon in Stockton. The Delta Stewardship Council will meet on Thursday and Friday of this week; among the items to be discussed will be a review the Delta Protection Commission’s Delta Economic Sustainability Plan.
STOP, THIEF! Put down that … glacier? Certainly you’ve heard some theories as to why the earth’s glaciers are disappearing, but did you ever consider glacial theft? Check it out from the Guardian.co.uk.
AND LASTLY: Beautiful! NASA has released a high-definition photo of earth. Find out more here from the Raleigh Telegram; you can check out the gigantic 8000 x 8000 full size version here (be patient … it takes a while to download).
May you have a great week!
Commentary: Taking stock of all the accomplishments of the Water Education Foundation
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom Rita Sudman at the Water Education Foundation:
“This year, 2012, marks the 35th anniversary of the Water Education Foundation. It’s a time for our Board of Directors, supporters and staff to muse a little on the work we’ve done and the water issues we have covered and helped bring to resolution. I’ve done a bit of figuring and realize – in terms of projects – there is a lot of water under the bridge! For example, if you had been reading Western Water magazine for the last 35 years, you would have read 210 issues. That’s a lot of magazines. And I don’t even want to count how many times we’ve covered some issues like the Delta!
I calculate that about 10,000 people have been on our water tours in California and Arizona and Nevada. About 18,000 people have attended our briefings and conferences over the years. Our partnership with public television has allowed 10 major documentaries to be seen by millions of Californians and many more people nationally. We are the proud recipients of four regional Emmys.
There are two additional programs that are so rewarding and successful that I wish we had started those years earlier. …
Weekend wrap-up: Water bond, the Delta, Hetch Hetchy and more making news, plus a look at the calendar and more
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 8:00 amWelcome to Monday! Here’s the weekend wrap-up:
On Saturday, Reuters reported on the water bond, Metropolitan posted this report on the Bay-Delta, the Tehama Daily News reported on a much-calmer meeting on regional water management, and Dan Bacher has comments from the environmental community on Governor Brown and the peripheral canal. The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a preliminary report on Central Valley Project water conditions with the first official water allocation estimate due in mid-February.
Sunday started with the River News-Herald reporting on Senator Wolk’s efforts on behalf of the Delta, the Manteca Bulletin reported that the SSJID has joined signed on to a resolution in opposition to the Delta Stewardship Council, the Delta National Park blog responded to the Metropolitan report about that other, still equal goal, the Western Weather Blog reports on conditions at Lake Mead, and Senator Feinstein says draining Hetch Hetchy won’t work.
ON THE CALENDAR THIS WEEK: On Tuesday, DWR’s workshop on Climate Change, Extreme Weather and Southern California floods will be held in Alhambra; Tuesday is also the second day of Reclamation and USGS’s Central Valley Hydrologic Model workshop, and on Friday, Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard are hosting a webinar on hydraulic fracturing in California.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: Top spot goes to the Bilingual News Weekly’s coverage of the peripheral canal, followed by the Manteca Bulletin’s coverage of Assemblyman Bill Berryhill’s peripheral canal alternative and the Stockton Record’s initial coverage of the passing of Alex Hildebrand, long-time Delta advocate. A lot of you also clicked over to check out the Department of Water Resources new water conditions webpage . The most popular blog post goes to Kate Poole’s “How to deny that fish need water”.
ARE YOU ON TWITTER? So am I! (Follow me here.) And so are a lot more agencies, including DWR and the Delta Stewardship Council. Even Proposition 18 (the water bond) is on twitter! I’ve assembled a list of water tweeters you’ll be sure to want to follow as well. Click here for Aquafornia’s list of water tweeters.
AND LASTLY, JUST FOR FUN … Only in L.A. can a river bed be confused for a freeway!
Have a great week!
New upcoming events posted to the calendar
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:34 amThe following events have been added to the calendar:
The Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) will host the annual Scott River Watershed Information Forum (SWIF) from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Fort Jones Community Hall, 11960 East St. Click here for more information from the Sikiyou Daily News.
The California Water Policy 21 conference, From Water Woes to Water Wise, will be held March 8 & 9 at the Westin Hotel, Los Angeles Airport. Click here for more information.
The Northern California Water Association cordially invites all those who are interested to attend their 20th Annual Meeting on March 9th, “The Political Landscape Affecting Our Water Resources” featuring John Laird, California Natural Resources Secretary. For more information or to RSVP, email dherrera [at] norcalwater.org, or call 916-442-8333. RSVP requested by March 2nd.
You can view the calendar in the sidebar to the right, or click here for a full-page version.
Do you have an event to be posted on Aquafornia’s calendar? Email me!
Weekend wrap-up: Berryhill’s alternative plan to the peripheral canal, a new website for water conditions, and IRWM takes a beating in NorCal, plus a look at the busy calendar ahead
Posted by: Maven on January 23, 2012 at 7:50 amHere’s the weekend wrap-up:
On Saturday, Assemblyman Bill Berryhill’s alternative plan to the peripheral canal (Manteca Bulletin) topped the scroll. The Department of Water Resources launched a new website on statewide water conditions, and the Willows Journal reported on a ‘spirited’ meeting about regional water planning in Red Bluff. Sunday’s scroll started with Governor Brown’s plans to ‘invest and build for the future’ in the Sacramento Bee. Jeff Mount calls the DSC’s Independent Science Board a “shining star” and a “trusted source” in an article posted at the Council website, and the Imperial Valley Press reminds us that it takes alfalfa to make ice cream. Much more to see if you just scroll down ….
THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES: Hard to tell as my statistics plug-in isn’t working today :( But going from my own logs, the most read item was the letter to the State Water Resources Control Board from a group of water & power agencies. Interest was high in Jerry Brown, the budget, the water bond, the peripheral canal, and his state-of-the-state address. Most read blog posts were Doug Obegi on the PPIC Delta economic report, the California Water Blog’s post on curious things about water management, and On the Public Record’s post on water news.
CALENDAR NOTES: The first day of Reclamation and USGS’s two-day workshop on the Central Valley Hydrologic Model begins on Tuesday. On Wednesday, there is a public meeting for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan; the meeting will be available by call-in for those unable to attend in person. The Delta Stewardship Council will meet on Thursday, as will the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan’s Governance Working Group. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board will meet to receive DWR’s flood plan as well as celebrate it’s centennial. The Delta Protection Commission meets in Stockton on Thursday; agenda items include a presentation from Meral regarding the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and a discussion of the Delta Plan and the Delta Reform Act (SB X7-1). The Delta Conservancy will hold three public meetings this week in various locations around the Delta on its strategic plan. If you’re attending the Future of Water in Southern California on Friday, I’ll see you there. And if you’re looking for something different to do this weekend, the four day Snow Goose Festival is going on Thursday through Sunday in Northern California with field trips, workshops and activities spread across six counties – plenty to do so check it out if you can.
JUST FOR FUN: Check out these surreal pictures from the Costa Concordia on the Big Picture blog; the Seametrics blog has some interesting infographics on agriculture, University of Chicago is now offering it’s popular Climate 101 class online for free, and lastly, for the strong of stomach (which is not me), the Water Wired blog has a post on the Guinea Worm Disease – after drinking water contaminated with the larvae, the larvae then festers inside the person for up to a year before crawling out – check out the video of this happening if you dare. (Yuk!)
A NOTE ABOUT THE SALTON SEA’S SALVATION MOUNTAIN: If you’ve been to the area and visited Leonard Knight’s monument in the desert, I regret to inform you that Leonard has been placed in a nursing home due to dementia, and the fate of his desert monument is unknown at this time. You can read a nice tribune to Leonard and his Salvation Mountain monument from the San Diego Reader here.
Have a great week!
Weekend wrap-up: Drought, lawsuits, and the BDCP in the news, plus a look at this week’s calendar
Posted by: Maven on January 9, 2012 at 7:00 amHope your weekend was a good one! Here’s the weekend wrap-up and a look at the calendar:
On Saturday, the Fresno Bee’s story on the drought and its effects on San Joaquin River Restoration topped the scroll, the Western Weather Blog posted on the bleak snowpack and the dry forecast, KQED covered the release of DWR’s flood control plan, and the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District issued press releases on the court case, which is moving forward. Sierra Wave reported on LADWP’s dispute over the town of Mammoth Lake’s water rights, Doug Obegi of the NRDC weighed in on the scientists who were cleared of wrongdoing, as did the California Watchdog blog, and Restore the Delta says the Delta Plan EIR is an environmental impact report in search of a project.
Sunday’s top of the scroll was the Ventura County Star article that ponders if Southern California water users are willing to pay for a Delta Fix. Assemblymember Huber called the BDCP an “inside job” and says it needs legislative scrutiny, Patricia Schifferle says Feinstein’s inserted water transfer language will allow water barons to corner the market, and the Inkstain blog says we’re back to draining Colorado River reservoirs again.
Of course, there were many more stories posted, so to get the whole picture, you’ll need to go back through the scroll.
CALENDAR NOTES: The Delta Conservancy subcommittee meets this afternoon, and on Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife will meet (Huber’s bill is on the agenda) as will the State Water Resources Control Board. The Delta Stewardship Council heads to Southern California to take public comment on the draft EIR for the Delta Plan at public hearings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, and the Delta Independent Science Board will meet on Thursday and Friday. The BDCP Finance Working Group meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled.
Have a great week!
A brief wrap-up for those of you returning …
Posted by: Maven on January 3, 2012 at 6:01 am
Welcome back to those of you who have been off enjoying the holidays! It has been rather uneventful around here. Last Friday, the Department of Water Resources released its draft statewide flood protection plan estimated to cost $17 billion (at least); the Stockton Record article asks just who is going to pay for that? The most popular item the last two weeks was this San Francisco Chronicle editorial on Senator Feinstein’s insertions of water transfer language into the omnibus spending bill. There was also good news for the Delta smelt, but the DFG has some bad news about aquatic invasive species. To catch up on all the news, though, you’ll have to continue reading the scroll. On New Years Day, I reviewed Aquafornia’s top news stories, blog posts and statistics for 2011.
In other news, the Department of Water Resources will be conducting its first snow survey today, and next week, the Delta Stewardship Council is preparing to hit the road to collect public comment statewide regarding the Delta Plan EIR. Other than today’s snow survey, there’s nothing on the calendar for this week.
Did you make a resolution to increase your knowledge of California water issues? Then read on to find out what’s new from the Water Education Foundation, and be sure to check the calendar for other opportunities throughout the year.
Thank you for your continued readership and I wish you all the best for 2012!
–Maven
Happy New Year! Here’s a look at the top news stories and blog posts for 2011
Posted by: Maven on January 1, 2012 at 8:00 am
Since it’s the beginning of the year, I’d like to first take the opportunity to thank you for your continued readership, for without you, this blog would not be the success that it is. A blogger blogs to be read, and I consider myself honored and blessed that I have the opportunity to put together something that brings so many of you here every day to take a look. And if you read no farther than this, I wish you all the best in the coming year!
I have to confess that I’m a bit of a statistics junkie, always keeping track of which stories and subjects interest you the most. As the end of the year approached, I’ve been avidly picking through my statistics. So read on to check out which stories were the most read on Aquafornia and more.
Continue reading “Happy New Year! Here’s a look at the top news stories and blog posts for 2011” »
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Maven on December 25, 2011 at 10:00 am
Wishing you all the best for this holiday!
May your day be a peaceful and joyous one.
-Maven
Get the Aquafornia app for your iPhone, iPad or iTouch!
Posted by: Maven on December 25, 2011 at 6:00 amDid Santa bring you a new iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch?
Then you’ll want to download the app which will format Aquafornia to your new device!
Simply click here to download the free App or search in the Apple ITunes App Store for “Aquafornia” or “Water Education Foundation.”
Best of all, the app is FREE!
Note: The new App is only compatible with iPhones, iPads and IPod Touch, but the site has been formatted for all mobile devices.
Weekend wrap-up: BDCP, a letter from Congressmembers to Salazar and more, plus Aquafornia is open for the holidays!
Posted by: Maven on December 19, 2011 at 11:00 amHere’s your weekend update:
On Saturday, the Central Valley Business Times reported on suspicions surrounding the BDCP and I posted a letter to Secretary Salazar from Congressmembers McCarthy, Nunes and others asking that the best available science be used in the new Delta smelt bi-op. Sunday started with the Inland Daily Bulletin’s article about how a Southern California water district sees their participation in the Cadiz project as insurance against dry years and the Sacramento Bee ran a rebuttal saying Davis can’t afford two water infrastructure projects at once. Also making news: Los Vaqueros is up, Shaver Lake is down, the Inkstain blog on a drought of the Lower Colorado River Basin’s making and the KlamBlog posted on Siskiyou County declaring jurisdiction over Scott River water.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: The California Lawyer article on the Kern Water Bank was by far the most popular out-click, followed very closely by Nick Di Croce of the Environmental Water Caucus’ commentary on the Delta Plan. Also popular (but not nearly so) was the Central Valley Business Times article on anti-environmental Congressmen, Dan Bacher’s story on the Westlands official now working for DWR, and Restore the Delta’s blog on Delta water rights.
CALENDAR NOTES: Nothing scheduled this week or the next, obviously.
Happy Holidays!
A NOTE ABOUT AQUAFORNIA AND THE HOLIDAYS: While all those other water news outlets will beg off, citing their weak excuses like holidays, vacations and stuff, Maven will be right here, keeping an eye on all the goings on. Yes, even on Christmas! (New Years, too!) If there’s something to post (and believe it or not, there are usually two or three things), it shall be posted, so tune those new iPads right here! Hey, what else am I going to do at 5 in the morning …. ?
Have a great week!
Weekend wrap up: Napa River restoration, the Delta, a brine line to the sea and more power for the DFG? plus groundwater in Times Square and a look at the calendar for this week
Posted by: Maven on December 12, 2011 at 8:30 amHere’s your weekend wrap-up:
On Saturday, the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage of Napa River restoration topped the scroll along with this article from the Capital Press which filled in the details. Reverberations continued from Thursday’s Delta Protection Commission meeting in Stockton with this Central Valley Business Times story about the mayor of Stockton blasting the Delta Stewardship Council and the Stockton Record’s story about San Joaquin Valley leaders reaching a new accord on Delta and water on Friday, and Congressman Lundgren thinks San Francisco’s water practices are illegal, reports the Bay Citizen.
Also making news on Saturday, the Capital Press reported on the Department of Fish & Game’s first draft of a “strategic vision statement” that, if adopted, could give the department more policing powers, and the Desert Sun ran a story about the proposed brine line to the Salton Sea. There were plenty more interesting items, so be sure to scroll all the way back to read them all!
On Sunday, the top of the scroll was an article on climate change and the Delta from the Delta Stewardship Council’s Science Board, and the Napa Valley Register profiles the San Diego man behind the Calistoga lawsuits. The Sacramento Bee ran a commentary from a Northern California environmental analyst who says the Klamath Dam removal agreements benefit California and Dan Bacher dives into the Dolphin Group.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: The most-read news article on Aquafornia last week was the Fresno Bee’s story about Wanger cutting ties to Westlands with the Central Valley Business Times article on criticisms leveled at the recent ag conservation report coming in second. As for commentaries, Peter Gleick was a popular out-click with his blog post on agricultural water conservation and the zombie water projects commentary at Forbes. Also popular last week was the California Water Blog’s post, Has human water use peaked in California?
CALENDAR NOTES: The calendar is thin but meaty this week with the BDCP holding a public meeting on Wednesday afternoon and the Delta Stewardship Council meeting on Thursday. Links for internet participation will be posted at the top of the scroll on the days the meetings are in session.
NOT TO BE MISSED: Do be sure to check out the winners of the Heads Up! 2011 visualization contest whose data visualizations depicting groundwater depletion will be displayed on electronic signs in Times Square on World Water Day next March.
Enjoy your week!
Weekend wrap-up: BDCP plans release of documents, San Joaquin River Restoration concerns, New Idria mine clean-up and Wanger in the news, plus a look at the week ahead
Posted by: Maven on December 5, 2011 at 8:18 amA mildly interesting weekend for water news …
THE WEEKEND RUNDOWN: On Saturday, the BDCP’s schedule for release of the plan documents was the top of the scroll, the San Francisco Chronicle published an editorial on Wanger, and On the Public Record returned with a rebuttal to a recent commentary addressing the North-South water conflict.
On Sunday, San Joaquin River Restoration led the news, with the Fresno Bee running a story about how Sack Dam being behind schedule could affect plans to return salmon to the river and the Silicon Valley Mercury News ran a feature on the EPA’s plans to clean up the toxic New Idria mercury mine site. The Modesto Bee ran a commentary by Randy Fiorini of the Delta Stewardship Council comparing our water system to our roads and the Inkstain blog ran down the history of salinity in the Delta. In other commentary, the Stockton Record editorialized about Judge Wanger; also weighing in on Wanger are Fresno Bee columnist Bill McEwen and the Delta National Park blog. The Desert Sun ran an editorial praising Assemblyman Perez’s work on the Salton Sea.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: Wanger dominated the news last week, with the top three outclicks being the Fresno Bee’s news story on Wanger, the Sac Bee’s editorial, and the California Water Wars blog commentary. Also popular was Alex Breitler’s story on the help wanted ad for a peripheral canal builder, as well his original blog post.
WHAT’S ON THE CALENDAR THIS WEEK: On Monday and Tuesday the State Water Resources Control Board is scheduled to meet. On Tuesday, Endangered Species Act litigation will be the subject of a Natural Resources Committee hearing in Washington, DC. The Delta Protection Commission will meet in Stockton on Thursday: among several interesting items on the agenda is a presentation by Phil Isenberg on the Delta Plan. On Friday, there will be a work session on the Delta Plan’s covered actions and the BDCP’s Yolo Fisheries Enhancement Working Group will meet.
NOTE: The California Water Commission won’t be meeting again until January.
Have a great week!
“Award-winning” Aquafornia brings you this holiday weekend wrap-up, plus what’s on the calendar for this week
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2011 at 8:05 amWelcome back! I hope your holiday was a good one. Here are the items of note that were posted over the long weekend:
THE RUN DOWN: On Thanksgiving Day, the Fresno Bee ran a story about the Stockton East Water District is preparing to take the feds to court for failing to deliver enough water from New Melones Reservoir, News 10 ran a feature about the “other big one” California faces – the ARKStorm scenario, and the California Water Blog posted a story about early maturation of chinook salmon on the Shasta River. The most read story, however, was this Central Valley Business Times story about a ballot measure to repeal just about every California environmental law that has been cleared and ready to start gathering signatures.
Friday’s top story was the Toronto Star reporting on how a cyber attack on an Illinois water company’s system could have implications for all water agencies nationwide. Also in the news, the Modesto Bee ran a commentary regarding Judge Wanger’s ruling and New Melones Reservoir, and Dan Bacher posted a story about a letter signed by 17 state legislators asking the DOI to rescind the BDCP MOA.
Saturday’s small but action packed scroll included the San Francisco Examiner’s report looking for the origin of the $10 Billion Hetch Hetchy dam removal estimate and the Sierra Sun reporting on Lake Tahoe’s water levels.
On Sunday, the Stockton Record ran a story about the Forest Service’s new Forest to Faucets program and how EBMUD and other utilities are putting this information to use and the Bakersfield Californian ran a story about the growing demand for Kern County ag land (especially property with vested water rights). Other highlights include Congressman Herger’s commentary on Klamath Dam removal in the Record Searchlight and the Imperial Valley Press report on IID and the QSA court case.
Of course, to see all the stories, you’ll have to scroll down, and back a page, too.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: The most read items were Doug Obegi’s blog post on the BDCP and additional water from the Delta and Lois Henry’s column on Kern water mayhem. The most read news story was the Capital Press article on the increase in watermaster fees for Northern California irrigators.
CALENDAR NOTES: Just announced last Friday, there will be a budget hearing on Salton Sea Restoration in Mecca this afternoon starting at 1pm, possibly to be webcast (if so, I’ll post the link at the top), and the Delta Conservancy will hold a public meeting at the Suisun Marsh on Wednesday. The Delta Independent Science Board meets on Thursday and Friday.And lastly … AQUAFORNIA WINS AN AWARD! “If you’re looking to escape your busy city life, Iglu have selected the finest blogs on the world’s National Parks to help you choose your dream destination,” writes Iglu Cruise Lines, and Aquafornia is one of them! Uh oh, looks like my hidden agenda is exposed – had you noticed me surreptitiously trying to persuade you to visit a national park? OK, I promise I’ll stop ;) But hey – at least now Aquafornia is officially “Award Winning!”
Have a great week!
Weekend wrap-up: Klamath Dams removal bill introduced, La Niña is back and Birmingham defends the BDCP … plus a busy week ahead on the calendar!
Posted by: Maven on November 14, 2011 at 6:00 amNot a terribly busy weekend around here, but it’s certainly an action packed week ahead for water meetings on the last full week before the upcoming holiday:
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: In Friday’s news, a bill was introduced in Congress to implement removal of the Klamath Dams, one of the partners in the Baja desalination deal is selling their stake, and the Delta National Park blog responded to the CWB’s sewer analogy and stressors in the Delta. On Saturday, the Fresno Bee reported on the growing La Nina, but the most popular item was about Occupy’s message being heard in the Delta. On Sunday, commentaries dominated the news, with Thomas Birmingham saying the BDCP is following the law, the Record Searchlight saying the Klamath Dams are not ‘perfectly good dams’ at all, and Bonham of the DFG saying that everyone needs to work together to solve the problems in the Scott and Shasta river valleys. Of course, for the full update, you’ll have to scroll down ….
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES: The most read item last week was Alex Breitler’s blog post on the BDCP. Top news stories were the follow-up on the Bradford Island landowner and the Fresno Bee story about the lawsuit over irrigation drainage. Many of you also clicked out to find out more about Nunes’ Sacramento Delta and Salmon Preservation Act.
CALENDAR NOTES: It’s a busy week ahead on the calendar! Wednesday is the last day to submit your comments on the BDCP’s MOA. Also on Wednesday, the Delta Conservancy will meet as will the California Water Commission, and later that afternoon, the BDCP will hold a public meeting. On Thursday, the California Water Commission continues its meeting, the Delta Stewardship Council begins the first of a two-day meeting, and the Bureau of Reclamation will host a meeting on the Grasslands Bypass Project. On Friday, the Delta Stewardship Council meeting continues. Those are just the highlights – you can check out the full calendar here.
WEBCASTS FOR THIS WEEK: The BDCP Public Meeting, the California Water Commission meeting and the Delta Stewardship Council meeting will all be webcast. The links will be posted at 7:30am on the days those meetings are in session.
May you have a productive and enjoyable week!
Weekend wrap-up: Delta Plan draft EIR, Nunes and Hetch Hetchy, update on DFG’s striped bass workshop, and more
Posted by: Maven on November 7, 2011 at 7:48 amWelcome to Monday! It was a busy weekend around here. To get the full update, you’ll need to scroll down to read it all, but here are some highlights plus a few important calendar notes:
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL DRAFT EIR UPDATE: On Friday, the Delta Stewardship Council released its long awaited draft EIR on the Delta plan (you can find the draft EIR here). ACWA expressed their concerns in a statement released later that day. On Saturday, the report was covered by the Contra Costa Times, the AP via the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Stockton Record.
NUNES SAYS CHARGE SAN FRANCISCO MORE FOR USE OF HETCH HETCHY: Also on Saturday’s scroll, Congressman Devin Nunes, mulling over a possible run against Feinstein, sent a letter on Friday to the members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction suggesting that a portion of the debt reduction could be achieved by charging San Francisco more for the use of Hetch Hetchy. Click here to read the letter. Nunes also plans to introduce new legislation, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Salmon Preservation Act. In other Hetch Hetchy news, KQED produced a segment on the Hetch Hetchy retrofit.
STRIPED BASS UPDATE: The Department of Fish and Game released their proposed striped bass regulation changes, plus moved the meeting to a larger venue. Click here for more information from Department of Fish and Game. Also, Dan Bacher has more on the proposed changes and reaction from the fishing community.
SISKIYOU COUNTY: Redding’s Record Searchlight published a trio of stories highlighting the challenges and growing tensions in rural Siskiyou County: Tensions mount in idyllic Siskiyou County in fight over dams, salmon, DFG sued on all sides over Shasta, Scott rivers’ coho, and Siskiyou sheriff’s life-and-death rhetoric alarms tribes, environmental groups.
ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEKEND, The Sacramento Bee says the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is headed down a perilous path, and the Salton Sea Authority prepares to push its own restoration plan to save the beleaguered sea.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORIES were this Contra Costa Times article about the landowner pushing for control of Bradford Island, followed closely by the San Francisco Chronicle story on the water contractors and the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan. The most-read blog posts were the Inkstain post on the Endangered Species Act and Barry Nelson’s post on fixing the Delta.
CALENDAR NOTES FOR THIS WEEK: Besides the DFG striped bass workshop mentioned above, the Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation have scheduled the 2011 Integrated Annual Review of Coordinated Operation of the CVP and SWP on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The meeting will be webcast and the links posted at the top of the scroll on the days the meeting is being held. Friday is Veteran’s Day, a state and federal holiday.
May you have an enjoyable day!
Having trouble accessing newspaper articles?
Posted by: Maven on October 25, 2011 at 7:24 amIf you are having difficulty accessing the articles in the links here on Aquafornia, send me an email. I may be able to help!
Check out Aquafornia’s new calendar feature!
Posted by: Maven on October 10, 2011 at 7:41 amHaving trouble keeping track of all of those meetings and events? Maven is here to help you with that! Check out the new Aquafornia calendar, now accessible from the sidebar. You can hover over any particular date to see what is happening or click on the link below to view the calendar on a full page. To find out more about an event, simply click on the event name.
I’ll post meetings. conferences and events as well as any other pertinent date-related information. While all items posted will be open to the public, not all of them will be free, so be sure to review the details carefully. To request a listing for your event, simply email Maven.
I hope you will find the new calendar a useful feature for you!
-Maven
Website note: Maven’s on the road this weekend, but here’s some holiday reading for you
Posted by: Maven on September 2, 2011 at 8:00 amWell, readers, Maven is hitting the road today, headed up to the Eastern Sierra for a long-planned camping trip. My tent campsite has a bear locker (which, if I am camping in a tent in bear country, I’d rather have a bear locker than not), but at least there are flush toilets and hot showers. Provided I don’t get eaten by a bear, the website will be updated next on Tuesday morning. (I am taking my computer, but I can make no guarantees.)
But I don’t want to leave you empty-handed, no! So I have some holiday reading suggestions for you.
WATER HISTORY BUFFS, TAKE NOTE:
I have been exploring the Historical American Engineering Record over at the Library of Congress. There’s quite a bit of documentation, both drawings and photos, that is on file regarding the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Colorado River Aqueduct. I have compiled them into slideshows to make the information more accessible, and since the material is in the public domain, I have even made them downloadable. Get your copy today! You can check them out here:
- The Historic American Engineering Record for the Los Angeles Aqueduct
- The Historic American Engineering Record for the Colorado River Aqueduct
IMPERIAL VALLEY WATER SYSTEM
I have been working on my own personal project on the Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea. I’ve planned three slideshows, the first of which concentrates on the technical details on how the water moves from Imperial Dam to the Salton Sea. (You can find out more about my Imperial Valley/Salton Sea project by clicking here.)
WHAT IS THIS PLACE CALLED THE DELTA?
It’s a tiny area that is always at the center of California’s water debate, but just what is the Delta and what does it look like? Take a photo tour of the Delta in this slideshow:
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!
–Maven
Tuesday’s top of the scroll: Download the Aquafornia App!
Posted by: Maven on July 5, 2011 at 8:03 am
Hey, check me out, I’m an app :)! From the Water Education Foundation:
The Foundation’s new Aquafornia App is now available and free to the public to download! Aquafornia.com is an online one-stop news site that covers California water news from both traditional and non-traditional sources. Aquafornia.com has the top stories posted by 9 am each morning with breaking water news posted later in the day.
Ray Kraus with LucoTrav Software designed this multifunctional App to provide access to Aquafornia’s current water news and the site’s other informative resources. Click here to download the free App or search in the Apple ITunes App Store for “Aquafornia” or “Water Education Foundation.” The new App is only compatible with iPhones, iPads and IPod Touch, but the Aquafornia site has also been made mobile friendly for all other hand-held devices.
Aquafornia presents the many sides and views of the California water picture and the Aquafornia App puts this water news right at your fingertips. The app provides direct access to news articles in a simple, scrollable format. The “Info Desk” provides you with resources and background info about California water and the “Saved” option will let you catalogue articles to read later.
Aquafornia’s extensive news article archive also is accessible from the App. Type a word in the search box or view the categories list to choose a topic and view all relevant articles. Share articles through Facebook, Twitter and email. Download the App today to get breaking news and be the first to read about events as they occur.”
Thanks to Ray Kraus for developing it for us! You can check out Ray’s website here: http://www.lucotrav.com/
Happy Fourth of July! Website is updated.
Posted by: Maven on July 4, 2011 at 9:32 am
Campsite was lovely, but not enough to do to stay another day, and besides, I have decided there are many things I will do: haul a bunch of stuff out into the sticks, cook while bugs nosedive into the grill, sleep in a tent, even forego a shower for a few days, but there is one thing I will not do again … I will not go camping without a flush toilet. Done with that.
Soooo, here ya go, a complete update!
Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July!
-Maven
Vintage postcard by flickr photographer Rip the Skull.
Happy 4th of July: Website note
Posted by: Maven on July 1, 2011 at 9:45 am
I am headed off to go camping in the mountains over the holiday weekend. The campsite is rather remote and without running water or flush toilets, so I don’t know how long we’ll last. I have decided to forgo taking the computer along and driving into town – in other words, I’m going to take a few days off. When I return, the website will be completely updated – but when exactly that will be, I cannot say. I do promise it will be done by Tuesday morning at the latest, though!
I thank you all for your continued readership, and I hope your holiday is safe and enjoyable one!
With warmest regards,
Maven
Photo of fireworks by flickr photographer bayasaa.
Check out the newly updated Research and Publications page!
Posted by: Maven on June 5, 2011 at 8:20 amWhere can you go on the internet to find links to all those reports and publications on California water? The Research and Publications page on the Information Desk, of course! Bringing together links to reports from the PPIC, Pacific Institute, Legislative Analyst’s Office, Little Hoover Commission, the Delta Watermaster’s report and more (even the CPUC’s paper on the public goods charge on water!), I’ve been updating it this weekend to make it as complete as possible.
You can check it out here: http://aquafornia.com/research-and-publications
Do I need to add anything? Drop me a line and let me know!
Interesting to note … apparently finance has been on the minds of legislators lately, as I found this report and this report over at the Legislative Analyst’s Office….
Website news: Check out our updated About page, and Aquafornia’s now formatted for smart phones and iPads, too
Posted by: Maven on June 1, 2011 at 8:37 amI wanted to let you know that we’ve updated Aquafornia’s “About” page, so if you are interested, check it out here.
Aquafornia also is now formatted for mobile devices so you can now easily stay up to date with all the latest water news on your smartphones and even your iPad, too!
And stay tuned for an exciting website announcement in the upcoming weeks!
Happy Memorial Day!
Posted by: Maven on May 30, 2011 at 7:11 am
On this Memorial Day….
Please take a moment today to remember those who have given their lives in the service of our country.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Check out Aquafornia on your mobile phone! plus some weekend highlights
Posted by: Maven on March 28, 2011 at 8:35 amHey mobile phone users! Check out Aquafornia on your smart phone! I’ve added a plug-in to the blog that formats the page for mobile browsers. It looks great on my phone; hopefully it works for yours, too. If you have any problems, drop me a line and let me know.
And not to be missed weekend news: Coming in late on Friday, Court tentatively holds that DWR’s proposed geological activities on Delta properties would result in an unconstitutional taking of private property, and the Court upholds protections for the Delta smelt, and Judge Wanger will issue his ruling on Wednesday whether pumping will be cutback on April 1st.
The Water Education Foundation welcomes new Board members
Posted by: Maven on March 21, 2011 at 8:04 amFrom the Water Education Foundation, this press release:
The Foundation welcomes Lester Snow to their Board of Directors, effective March 11, 2011. Mr. Snow brings more than 30 years of experience to this position. He previously served as Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, Director of the California Department of Water Resources, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation, Executive Director of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, and General Manager of the San Diego County Water Authority. He currently serves as a consultant, providing policy, planning and communication guidance to clients.
“We are pleased that Lester Snow has joined the Foundation’s board as he brings vast knowledge and experience in working with state, federal and private water interests,” said Executive Director Rita Schmidt Sudman.
Continue reading “The Water Education Foundation welcomes new Board members” »
Odds and ends: Waste management can happen in the strangest places, drinking water and autism, Buddhist fish ceremonies & California’s water history
Posted by: Maven on February 20, 2011 at 6:00 amThe latest edition of odds and ends, filling you in on everything you didn’t know you needed to know:
Coming to Copenhagen in 2016: Waste management plant and urban ski park, all in one! Yes, if you’re planning on visiting Copenhagen’s waste management plant, which will incinerate the waste from five municipalities to create heat and electricity for 140,000 homes, don’t forget your skis. The plant will also feature an urban ski park; after your tour, take the elevator to the top and ski on down. Check it out, from the New York Times Green blog: Skiing Your Way to ‘Hedonistic Sustainability’
SFPUC’s new office building will have a sewage treatment in the lobby, as well as exterior landscaping: By using a constructed wetland, the water will be cleaned up, good enough for irrigation, toilet flushing, and other non-potable uses. The SFPUC expects to save about 750,000 gallons and produce another 900,000 gallons. From Clean-Technica: World’s most gorgeous sewage treatment plant will be put inside an office building
Say what? Regulating drinking supply prevents kids from getting autism, so says Lisa Jackson? I’ve heard many theories as to why autism is on the rise, but not that one. Jackson told a Senate Committee at a hearing: ““Our science may be good, but I don’t know how you price the ability to try to forestall a child who may not get autism if they’re not exposed to contaminated water,” Jackson said.” Read it all here from CNS News: EPA Administrator Claims Regulating Drinking Water Supply Prevents Kids from Getting Autism
If you’re planning any Buddhist fish release ceremonies, read this first.
The water history of California: I stumbled across this pdf which, despite it’s complex and academic title, is an excellent history of how California’s water system developed, from the Native Americans to the present. If you’re into water history, you’ll want to bookmark this: Water Conveyance Systems: Historic Context Development and Evaluation Procedures (at the California Department of Transportation website)
New on Maven’s Photoblog: The Eastern Sierra Mountains, A Visit to Kern National Wildlife Refuge, and the Placerita Canyon Nature Center
Odds and ends: My Delta tour pictures, nature’s slurpee machine & iceberg death rattles, Bay Area’s low-rent pirates, a sexy flood film, a dam power point and more!
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2011 at 8:49 am
Oh yes, it’s the return of Odds and Ends, which longtime Aquafornia readers will remember as the occasional installment that covers all of those little water things you didn’t know you needed to know. Here’s some notable bits and pieces of water-related links from around the internet:
Delta tour pictures finally posted: Back in July, I traveled with the Water Education Foundation on their Delta tour. I’ve finally arranged my photos on my Photoblog. You can check it out here: Photos from the Water Education Foundation’s Delta Tour. (Note: I’ll be spending a day in the Delta in March. If you have any suggestions of great places to photograph the Delta, please let me know!)
Hey! Look to the right over there and check out my updated Web Resources section, now featuring links to check on current snowpack and reservoir conditions as well as your state and federal legislative committees. Coming soon: an updated Research and Publications page!
Nature’s slurpee machine: Check out this YouTube video of the Frazil Ice Flows in Yosemite Park in this post from the Fresno Bee News Blog: Frazil Ice Video Brrrrrr!!!!
If you’re in the mood for more ice, check out the Death Rattle of an Iceberg from KQED’s Climate Watch blog.
Low rent “pirates” in Sausalito? Apparently so! The Bay Citizen reports on the Gates Co-op, a holdover from the beatnik communities of the 50s. Check out the photo gallery – this is definitely not your high-rent living. Find it here: Gates Co-op Houseboats, Sausalito
The Sexiest Flood Film Ever, or so says the Los Angeles Creek Freak blog. Go decide for yourself! Sexiest Flood Film Ever
Dam Powerpoint: Check out this comprehensive power point on California Dams: Dams and Disasters: a brief overview of dam building triumphs and tragedies in California’s past
Brochures to check out: The Delta Stewardship Council’s brochure about the Delta plan and the Union of Concerned Scientists 10 Things You Should Know about the Energy-Water Collision.
Interesting historical notes: There is a wealth of history online now that is available through Google books and others websites that I have found while researching the Salton Sea and the Imperial Valley. Check out this Popular Mechanics article from December 1946 about the machines building the All-American Canal and other canals in the desert; or this Life Magazine article from 1940 on the Pacific Fruit Express and its highly successful Imperial Valley cantaloupe trains; This Popular Mechanics article from 1940 profiles how the reefer cars were iced to keep the produce cool.
Salton Sea – the renovated North Shore Yacht Club: I could fill endless odds and ends posts about Salton Sea blogs, but here’s what’s interesting in the last week. On my recent trip to the sea, I had hoped to visit the renovated North Shore club which has been turned into a museum but I just ran out of time. The Spirit blog made a visit – the place looks amazing now! Check it out here: New playground and patio at the renovated North Shore Beach & Yacht Club at the Salton Sea Also, check out these beautiful pictures of sunsets at the sea by Peter Tellone photography here: The Salton Sea – The Sunsets
Maven’s Photoblog: The New River
Posted by: Maven on January 6, 2011 at 7:33 amIt was a great day, visiting the fields of the Imperial Valley, and I can’t wait to show you the pictures, but not much time today. However, I just had to show you the pictures from our visit to the New River in Calexico yesterday, the most polluted (& disgusting) river in the U.S. Check it out on my photoblog by clicking here.
Today, we are headed to the Salton Sea. Tomorrow, one more museum and then home!
Happy 2011! Maven’s New Year’s message for you ….
Posted by: Maven on January 1, 2011 at 8:43 am
Happy New Year! It’s been another wild ride in California water news this year, and no doubt 2011 will be much the same. I look forward to serving your water news needs in 2011! As the year draws to a close and a new one begins, I’d like to take a moment to share some thoughts with you.
I developed this website with the concept of following water news from around the state to include not only newspaper articles but also blogs, trade journals, legislator statements, press releases, and even regional weather, and more. Aquafornia is not an environmental blog nor an agency blog; it’s the ‘everything’ blog when it comes to California water and I don’t think there’s anything else like it on the internet. That being said, the stories on the scroll are driven by what is being posted and published to the web each day; it is never my intention to favor any one side.
I don’t have an agenda to push or a point of view to present because I have respect for all sides. I think the water agencies do a phenomenal job delivering water to our taps virtually uninterrupted day after day, and I am fascinated with the large-scale infrastructure systems that our modern society depends on. (If you think water is complicated, just check out electricity!) I like agriculture because I like to eat, and I’m especially appreciative of the amazing selection of high quality fruits and vegetables that are available to me year-round living here in California. (Those early season strawberries are the best!) And I really enjoy being out in the environment, and believe it needs and deserves protection, too; our family trips often involve visiting the remote and rural parts of the state. (We especially enjoy real rivers!) I don’t fish myself nor do I eat fish, but nonetheless I think it’s important for there to be fish in our lakes and rivers, too.
I have to believe there are answers to be found and that those answers lie somewhere in the murky middle. The best solutions to our problems can only be crafted when everyone has at least a basic understanding of and respect for each other’s position, for the outcome will surely affect us all. It is important to realize that there are people fighting for their very livelihoods over these issues; decisions must be carefully made. And in a state where ballot initiatives determine spending and policies, an engaged and informed electorate is absolutely necessary. It is my hope that Aquafornia makes a significant contribution to creating that understanding.
But Aquafornia is not just about following the news and commentary of the day. California’s water issues cannot be fully understood without knowing some basic information about how water is managed and conveyed around the state, and Aquafornia’s Information Desk is the top spot on the internet for providing that information. With a combined total of nearly 35,000 hits last year alone, the articles Where Does California’s Water Come From, Where Does Southern California’s Water Come From, California’s Water Crisis, and Why the Delta is Important are always among the top articles read on Aquafornia each day. The Los Angeles Aqueduct Slideshow along with articles on the Information Desk have even been used as source material for college courses, and the State Water Project Slideshow joined the Information Desk in November. I am proud that Aquafornia is fulfilling its educational mission by providing accurate and basic information on the internet for those who are interested in learning more about California’s water.
As this year opens up, I’ll be traveling the Imperial Valley from Imperial Dam through the fields of the Imperial Valley and out to the Salton Sea this week. I’ll be compiling pictures and doing research for an upcoming project that I’m hoping will launch in the spring that’s been two years in the making. I’ll try and post pictures on my photoblog as I travel along. I may need to use a shortened format for the regional news stories, but rest assured, everything will return to normal once I’m back at Aquafornia headquarters next week!
I’d like to take a moment to thank the Water Education Foundation for their sponsorship and support of Aquafornia; they do important work , they support me :) and they’re a nice bunch of people, too. If you like Aquafornia, please consider supporting the Foundation by becoming a member, attending a conference or taking a water tour. (I took several tours this year, and enjoyed them all!)
I’d also like to say thank you to all who take the time to comment or send me emails. Even though I’m not so good at answering them all, I do read each one, and your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.
I certainly never imagined when I started this blog over three and a half years ago that it would enjoy the incredible success that it has, and so most of all, I owe it all to you, the readers, because without your steady and faithful readership, this blog be just another abandoned website on the internet. After all, a blogger blogs to be read, so from me to you, a heartfelt ‘thank you!’ and my sincerest best wishes for all the best for you and yours in 2011!
With warmest regards,
Chris Austin
aka ‘Maven’
Here’s a recap of yesterday afternoon’s postings
Posted by: Maven on November 24, 2010 at 8:34 amAnd finally …. here’s a rundown of the postings yesterday afternoon in response to Westlands – note that these are all posted further down the scroll, but are being located up here for your convenience:
THE BDCP REPORT
The BDCP “Complete Working Draft” has now been posted and is available here: http://www.baydeltaconservationplan.com/BDCPPlanningProcess/ReadDraftPlan.aspx
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR’S RESPONSE TO WESTLANDS
Click here to read the letter from the Department of Interior.
BLOG COMMENTARY:
Kate Poole/NRDC: And now, will the real purpose of the BDCP please stand up? from the NRDC Switchboard blog
On the Public Record blog on Westlands: A whole cartload of schadenfreude for me.
Delta National Park blog: Westlands takes the ball and goes homeMEDIA STATEMENTS:
State Water Contractors Response
Metropolitan Water District’s Response
On the Road: Aqua Blog Maven’s slideshow of Lake Tahoe, the Feather River, and Lake Oroville
Posted by: Maven on August 1, 2010 at 8:05 amHere’s a slideshow of my pictures of Northern California. First, there are some shots of Lake Tahoe, and then some pictures of my trip down Route 70, following the Feather River, followed by Lake Oroville. We visited it yesterday; it is only 68% full.
Today, we leave Chico and head over to Grass Valley and down the 49 to Jackson. Tomorrow, we’re going to see a gold mine and some limestone caverns. Then, it’s down through the Central Valley, back to home on Tuesday.
Note: If you want to read the comments I have for each picture, you must click the “show info” button at the top of the slideshow. if you want to view in full screen, click the button in the lower right hand corner.
I hope you enjoy these pictures!
Aqua Blog Maven’s photos from the road
Posted by: Maven on July 26, 2010 at 9:59 amI’m on the road for the next ten days. The blog will be updated as usual, albeit perhaps a little later than usual…. (it is vacation, you know….) Periodically I’ll share pictures from the road, this batch from our trip up the Eastern Sierra (click on the picture to see it larger):
Quite possibly the smallest water company in California(unverified):
Click here for more pictures: Continue reading “Aqua Blog Maven’s photos from the road” »
Water Education Foundation announces winners of the 2010 “California Water” photo contest!
Posted by: Maven on June 18, 2010 at 7:19 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
“The Foundation would like to announce the winners of the 2010 “California Water” photo contest!
Michael Carl won for his photo of the Upper Kern River. Michael is a freelance writer and photographer whose work focuses on California rivers and their diverse fisheries. He edits and develops content for the Ecological Angler, a website targeted to the fishing community: http://www.ecoangler.com.
Steve Folino won for his photo of Yosemite, shot across the Merced River and the
Yosemite Valley towards El Capitan. With his wife Lee, Steve owns and operates a North Sacramento portrait studio called Inner Vision Images. More examples of his work can be seen on their website at http://www.innervisionimages.com.
Both winners will receive $50 and a copy of the Foundation’s Emmy award-winning documentary, Salt of the Earth: Salinity in California’s Central Valley. The winners will also be announced on our Facebook page and Aquafornia.”
Slideshow: Central Valley Tour
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2010 at 8:03 amA few weeks ago, I traveled with the Water Education Foundation on their tour of the Central Valley. Here’s a slideshow of just some of the things we saw (You can view this in a larger window or full screen on the slideshare site):
Interactive map for upcoming Water Education Foundation Central Valley Tour
Posted by: Maven on April 6, 2010 at 7:39 amRebecca Scott sent me this interactive map of the upcoming Central Valley Tour:
“The Water Education Foundation’s Central Valley Tour is April 14-16. Check out this interactive map to find out what sites in the Central Valley we will be visiting. The blue points are the locations we will be visiting on Day 1, the red points Day 2 and the green points Day 3. For more info about our tours and to register, visit www.watereducation.org/tours. “
I’m going on this tour, and I am very much looking forward to another action-packed tour, like the Lower Colorado River Tour (check out my slideshow here).
The major sponsors of the 2010 Central Valley Tour are Bowles Family Farm (in honor of Mr. John H. “Jack” Threlkeld); California Department of Water Resources; Kern County Water Agency; Bureau of Reclamation – Mid Pacific Region; George Miller and Janet McKinley; PBS&J.
This tour is all filled up, but there are more water tours this year, including the popular Delta tour in July. Check it out at the Foundation’s website by clicking here.
View Central Valley Water Tour in a larger map
Water Education Foundation announces photography contest – “California Water”
Posted by: Maven on March 18, 2010 at 6:40 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
“The Water Education Foundation is an impartial, nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
The Water Education Foundation is seeking the best California water photographs that best represent each of the following categories:
• California Rivers
• The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
• Indoor/Outdoor Water Conservation
• Agricultural Water Use
• Fish and Wildlife
• Urban Water Use
• RecreationPRIZES: The top three entries will be announced and posted on the Foundation’s website, Facebook page and Aquafornia along with a link to the artist’s webpage. The winners will also receive $50 and a copy of the Foundation’s Emmy award-winning DVD, Salt of the Earth: Salinity in the Central Valley.
GUIDELINES: Photo submissions should be in color, creative but realistic and must be at least 8 ½ by 11 at 300dpi. You can submit as many entries as you’d like but they must be original work. Please email digital photo submissions by April 10, labeled with your name and title of the piece to Robin Richie, rrichie@watereducation.org. No calls please. The winner will be chosen in May.
All entries become property of the Water Education Foundation and could be used in future publications. Photographer will receive a photo credit and copy of the publication for any photos used. The Foundation reserves the right to edit, modify, publish, use, and reproduce any and all entries without further compensation.
A Sunday morning slideshow of pictures from around California
Posted by: Maven on February 28, 2010 at 8:37 amSlow news day today. It feels so relaxing after yesterday when I posted 33 items …
I recently uploaded a lot of pictures from all around the state onto my flickr page – click here to check out all of my pictures at the flickr website. Aquafornia pictures are available for your non-commercial use under the Creative Commons license; all I ask for is credit for Aquafornia and a link to the photo’s flickr page if possible.
I have been experimenting with photo galleries and flash programs, and I discovered that I can now embed flickr slideshows! Unfortunately, I can’t add my own custom comments for the slideshow, although you can see the title & description by clicking on the “Show Info” link at the top left on the screen. Note that you can see the pictures in full screen view by clicking on the icon in the bottom right corner.
So, if you feel so inclined, sit back and enjoy views of waterscapes and infrastructure from around California….
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