Aguadoc
Like water through rock, the news of Michael Campana’s death traveled slowly from where he died late last August, in his home city of Corvallis, Oregon, to where I now live, in Baltimore, Maryland. Top of the scroll in the December 2nd New Yorker, there was a quip of his that likened an RFK, Jr. scheme to save a river by bottling its water to “a church running a brothel.”
Pure Michael or, to use his water handle, pure “Aquadoc.” Long sober from Twitter, I searched Michael on the newly vibrant platform Bluesky to high five him. Look who’s in The New Yorker! No Aguadoc. Something was wrong. Amplifying good work on social media matters these days. It’s expected that working scientists be out doing “sci comm” on social media explaining their work and promoting their universities. Even before Twitter, Michael was all over it, and not just for himself, …
In praise of ‘Aqua Blog Maven’
Founding editor Chris Austin has stepped aside as compiler of the California water news feed "Aquafornia."Opposing faces of optimism
Two new books reviewed in High Country News present sharply opposing faces of optimism about the future of Western fresh water management.On the public record
Myself I planted native plants because I couldn't afford a sprinkler system when I first moved to Southern California. Then of course I became sanctimonious about it. The bees were pure gravy.
On the public record, the most smartly written blog on California water, responded yesterday to the publication earlier this week of the Public Policy Institute report Managing California Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation, “Reconciliation? Reconciliation of what? Northern and southern Californians? People living in regions that are about to get screwed with their fates? People and the new Californian dream?
Oh. Environmental and Human Water Uses, apparently. That’s a pretty boring thing to reconcile, because what matters in a political system is people’s expectations and their subjective experiences. Do they feel like they’re having their god-given American right to red meat at every meal yanked away from them, or do they feel like they’re planting …
Arroyo Seco water budget
After reading the newly published "A Water Budget for the Arroyo Seco Watershed," those who doubt the conservation cred of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California may still wish that its board would wake up in the 21st century, but they will probably not question the dedication to conserve and educate of Met chairman Tim Brick. Through the Arroyo Seco Foundation, Brick has just published a report that takes residents of the Los Angeles County communities of La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Highland Park, Montecito Heights and Elysian Park through the natural and unnatural water cycles that drive Southern California. The report could not be more layman-friendly, however anyone interested in urban water management should click on the graphic to be taken to the foundation, where the document can be downloaded for free.
North American Native Plant Societies
After the lawn
Garden blogs
