One of the great debates (at least among water issues) over the last few decades has been the value of water storage. Do we build more storage, re-operate existing facilities, or do we take down existing dams? Well, this winter is proving to be a very good reason why we have storage in California and in certain places would benefit from more. Here is what I mean; December of last year brought a torrent of both rain and snow to California with much of that water simply running off the hills and into the creeks, streams and rivers and through the Delta out to the ocean. While we need water flowing through the Delta to maintain water quality, it is those storm flows that create an opportunity to even out the winter peaks (and valleys) with the summer (very dry) valleys.

Sometimes we are lucky to live surrounded by nature’s beauty and creatures, most of the time we take it for granted until it smacks us in the face!  Since childhood, I have lived in the Sacramento Valley; through high school the rice fields were just obstacles on my way from Willows to Chico to have … Continue reading “Nature’s Beauty for You to View”

Now that we have transitioned from fall into winter, the Sacramento Valley is welcoming incredible numbers of migratory and wintering birds to the region every day. The habitat these species are now benefiting from is the result of months of deliberate water and land management activities, as well as decades of work to establish the varied land uses that make up this habitat, including flooded rice fields, the establishment of privately managed wetlands as well as the creation of National Wildlife Refuges and State Wildlife Areas. All of this habitat is dependent upon the availability of high quality water supplies throughout the year.

It’s tree planting time. The rains have come, and our habitat team is in high gear: augering holes, sowing native grass seed, and getting young plants in the ground. We at Audubon California plants trees and shrubs to support the birds that need them for food, cover, and nest sites. Valley oak, coyote brush, redbud, coffeeberry, wild rose, toyon. When there is sufficient room next to a waterways , these plantings mimic the riverside forests that used to run ribbons across the Valley, providing one of the richest habitats for wildlife in North America.