CALIFORNIA'S WATER
ARTICLES
Where does California's water come from?
Water in California is a big deal. How water is routed around the state is a huge bone of contention between the stakeholder groups. Where does this water come from? How do we route it around the state? Learn about all the different water systems that deliver the water that sustains the cities and nourishes the agricultural fields of California in this article hosted at Aquafornia.com. Click here to read this article at Aquafornia.
Where does Southern California water come from?
Southern California imports at least half of its water in any given year. Where does this water come from? Find out about the water systems that sustain the population of Southern California in this informative article hosted at Aquafornia.com. Click here to read this article at Aquafornia.
Why the Delta matters to every Californian
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a tiny portion of the state that plays a major role in California's environment and economy. Find out why this tiny area is so important to all of us who live here in Californian this article hosted at the Aquafornia.com site. Click here to read this article at Aquafornia.
California's Water Crisis
California has water problems, no doubt. But what exactly are the problems and what are the possible solutions? Take a look in this article hosted at the Aquafornia.com site. Click here to read this article at Aquafornia.
SLIDESHOWS
Los Angeles Aqueduct: California's first water project
From Mono Basin to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Aqueduct delivers water over 300 miles to slake the thirst of Southern California. The project, brilliantly engineered to deliver the water entirely by gravity, has not been without its human and environmental impacts. Click here to begin the presentation.
The Owens Lake Dust Control Project
Coming soon. In the meantime, you can check out my photoblog post for a sneak preview.
From the Colorado River to the Salton Sea: The story of the Imperial Valley's Water
Water is the lifeblood of the Imperial Valley, and this slideshow follows the path of the water as it flows from the Colorado River through the Imperial Valley and ultimately into the Salton Sea, providing an in-depth look at the infrastructure and the system that makes the agricultural bounty of the Imperial Valley possible and sustains the Salton Sea in the process. Click here to start the presentation.
Note: This is the first part of a three part series. Click here for more information on this project.
Note: This is the first part of a three part series. Click here for more information on this project.
State Water Project: Connecting California's water
Follow the path of the State Water Project as the water travels from Northern California southward, distributing water to the Bay Area, Central Valley farmland on its way to Southern California. This project resides on Aquafornia, the California water news blog. For more information, visit aquafornia.com. Click here to begin the presentation.
What is this place called the Delta?
The Delta is just a tiny portion of California, and yet it plays a major role in California's water supply. Even so, most Californians don't know where or what the Delta is, much less why it is important to them the rest of California. Click on the image to learn more about the Delta in this introductory slideshow. Click here to begin the presentation.
PHOTOBLOG POSTS - INFRASTRUCTURE
The Big Lift: Photo tour of the State Water Project's Edmonston Pumping Plant
The Edmonston Pumping Plant is the largest single water lift in the world, flinging the water nearly 2000 feet up to get over the Tehachapis. Check out the pumps and find out what it takes to make it happen in this photoblog post. Click here for the post on my photoblog.
What is this place called the Delta? (The photoblog version)
In the world of California water, much of the conversation – nay, argument, really, centers around this place called the Delta. Northern Californians think Southern Californians want to drain it dry. Southern Californians, for the most part, don’t even know where the Delta is, much less why it would be important to them. I’m just guessing, but I would be willing to bet that most Californians who don’t live near the Delta don’t know where it is or why it is important, either. So in this post, using pictures of my own and borrowing a few pictures from others, I will try and answer the question, what is the Delta and why is it important?
Southern California's first water project: The Los Angeles Aqueduct
Take a trip from Mono Lake to Southern California, tracing the route of the aqueduct as it travels south, some of the water traveling as far as 400 miles and taking as long as three months to get here. Click here for my photoblog post on the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
The Los Angeles Aqueduct
Earlier this year, I was in the area so I stopped at the Los Angeles Aqueduct intake, and found it surprisingly lacking in any no tresspassing signs, so sensing a rare opportunity (surely those signs will return soon), I gleefully tromped around the intake, taking pictures. Click here to view my pictures of the Los Angeles Aqueduct intake.
The Owens Lake Dust Control Project: The ultimate human-managed landscape
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has spent over a billion dollars so far on cleaning up the mess here at Owens Lake, and they call it the largest undertaking of its kind in the world. So what do you get for a billion bucks in the middle of the desert? Find out in this photoblog post.
The end of the line for the Lower Owens River: The DWP Pumpback Station
Back in 2007, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power finally put water back in the Lower Owens River, the result of a judge’s order issued several years before. As part of the plan, however, DWP was allowed to take back the water they put in before it went on to the Owens dry lakebed. Click here to check out these pictures of DWP’s pumpback station, which is pretty much the end of the line for the Lower Owens River.
Sacramento's Flood Control System: Under pressure but holding up
In the spring of 2011 after a series of strong spring storms, flows in the Sacramento River were high. I happened to be visiting at the time, and here's my photoblog account of how Sacramento's flood control system was handling the deluge.
Related photoblog post: Here are more pictures from the Fremont Weir.
Related photoblog post: Here are more pictures from the Fremont Weir.
Imperial Dam and the All-American Canal headworks
At the Imperial Dam, located about 20 miles north of Yuma, over one-fifth of the flow of the Colorado River water is desilted and then diverted into the All-American Canal to irrigate the fields of the Imperial Valley. How does a facility accomplish moving so much water? Find out in this photoblog post.
Colorado River Aqueduct to Cadiz Valley: Water, railroads, and desert oddities
A desert road trip to photograph the Colorado River Aqueduct ends with a spontaneous trip to the Cadiz Valley. Here's the photoblog post from our Colorado River Aqueduct to Cadiz road trip.
San Luis Reservoir and the O'Niell Forebay
On my way to a conference in Monterey, I had a chance to briefly explore the area around the San Luis Reservoir complex, a joint facility of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. http://mavensphotoblog.com/2012/05/27/san-luis-reservoir-and-the-oniell-forebay/
PHOTOBLOG POSTS - CALIFORNIA'S WATERSCAPES
Feather River Canyon - California's State Route 70
California's SR-70, the Feather River Route, is one of California's most scenic highways. Stretching from the Nevada border to Chico, this route travels through the rural ranches and mountains of Northeastern California, following the Feather River across valleys and through canyons until it reaches Lake Oroville. Check out the scenery in this photoblog post.
Photos from the Water Education Foundation's Delta tour
In July of 2010, I traveled with the Water Education Foundation on their tour of the Delta. Here are my pictures of some of the things we saw on the tour.
The South Fork of the American River
One of my favorite California rivers is the south fork of the American River. Come check out some of the places along the river in this photoblog post.
A visit to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge
A couple of years ago, we took a trip out to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. It was a little late in the spring, so unfortunately we had just missed the majority of the birds. Flooding of the habitat begins in October to coincide with the arrival of migrating waterfowl from the north, so the best time to visit is from October to March. However, when we visited in April, there were still plenty of birds there that hadn’t left yet. Check out this photoblog post on the Kern National Wildlife Refuge.
Lake Tahoe - Jewel of the Sierra
Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places to vacation at - it's the most beautiful place in the world, as far as I am concerned. Check out my best shots of Lake Tahoe in this photoblog post.
Tufa and Mono Lake
The road to Grandma's house goes right past Mono Lake, so it's a place I've visited many times. Check out my favorite shots of Mono Lake in this photoblog post.
A stop at Mono Lake
Along the road to Grandma’s house is Mono Lake, another favorite place to stretch our legs. Each time we decide to stop here, I try and pick someplace different. This time, I turned in on the road just north of the Visitor’s Center. There’s a nice boardwalk here named for David Gaines, the founder of the Mono Lake Committee, that is the perfect length for a stretch-your-legs stroll after a few hours in the car. Click here to check out the boardwalk at Mono Lake.
The Salton Sea
Ah … the Salton Sea. It is a place I have visited many times; it is a place I’m sure I will visit yet again (even over the howls of protest from my children). Here are my photoblog posts from the Salton Sea:
The shrinking Salton Sea
The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
A day at the Salton Sea
The shrinking Salton Sea
The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
A day at the Salton Sea
The New River: The most polluted river in America
The New River flows from its headwaters in Mexico north through Calexico and on to the Salton Sea. It's earned the dubious distinction of being the nation's most polluted river. Here's my photo account of my visit to the New River in Calexico.
PHOTOBLOG POSTS - CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
Agriculture in the Central Valley
Millions of acres are under cultivation in California's Central Valley. Take a photo tour of agriculture in the Central Valley in this photoblog post.
Agriculture in the Salinas Valley
On the way back from a trip to Monterey, I had the opportunity to drive through the lovely Salinas Valley. Check out my photoblog post by clicking here.
Photo tour of the Imperial Valley - the most productive agricultural area in the world
So what does the Imperial Valley do with all of the water diverted at Imperial Dam? Take a tour and find out in this photoblog post on the Imperial Valley.
Agriculture in the Coachella Valley
Located at the north end of the Salton Sea, agriculture in the Coachella Valley looks quite different than it does in the Imperial Valley. See how the Coachella Valley does agriculture in this photoblog post.
WATER HISTORY
The Historic American Engineering Record for: The Los Angeles Aqueduct
A compilation of drawings and photos on file at the Library of Congress regarding the Los Angeles Aqueduct. (Hosted at Slideshare.) Click here to view the presentation.
The Historic American Engineering Record for: The Colorado River Aqueduct
A compilation of drawings and photos on file at the Library of Congress regarding the Colorado River Aqueduct. (Hosted at Slideshare.) Click here to view the presentation.