I worked from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm today, helping out with the IMS program at work (an irrigation management program provided to Ag customers). I spent the day cruising from vineyard to orchard to vineyard again, using a neutron probe to monitor soil moisture levels with my colleague. I saw quail, turkeys, llamas, tons of deer, several very sweet and very friendly dogs, and even dozens of peacocks being kept as pets at 2 different vineyards. We crossed the oldest suspension bridge in California (so i'm told) and this is the view of the river canyon that bridge spans. The river you see is the South Fork American (a watershed very close to my heart, as I have done most of my learning out here thus far on and in this very watershed). River levels are historically much higher than this (you can see where the water level used to be, the tops of the bare rock) but these days its running much lower because of upstream dams and a series of drought years. At least now, for four hours a day, 6 days a week, all summer long, the dams are required to release a minimum of 1500 cfs (guestimate, since i don't have the actual value right here, but its close to this) for the rafting companies. Rafters got these levels guaranteed years ago, and without it i'm sure they'd all be out of business by now. Theres so much more I could share about this river, but I'm not all that sure you folks are that interested so I'll leave some for later.
Photos Posted: 120
Days Left: 245
