He who Makes Things Sprout

" Tlaloc was an important deity in Aztec religion; as supreme god of the rains, he was also by extension a god of fertility and of water. He was widely worshiped as a  benevolent  provider of life giving rain and sustenance, but he was also feared for his  unforgiving ability to send destructive storms and floods or worse, his ability to with hold water all together and cause suffering through drought. lord of the powerful element of water. Tlaloc is also associated with caves, springs, and mountains, most specifically the sacred mountain in which he was believed to reside. His animal forms include herons and other wet or water dwelling creatures such as amphibians, snails, and possibly sea creatures, particularly ones that inhabit seashells."

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The Obvious Drought

"This waterfall should be gushing over the side of the cliff yet its only a trickle of itself. No rain, no snow, no water show."

This image was submitted by Kristen C from Yosemite National Park.

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Water out of Reach

"This image is out the plane window on the way to Orlando Florida.  Looking at the sun's reflection on the water made me reflect on the drought back home California. We can be surrounded by water and still not have enough ..."

This  was submitted by Vanessa H.

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King's River

"Water is a simple yet essential component of life on Earth. This photo was taken in my backyard along the King's River in Sanger, Calidornia. Living on the River, water has always been an active part of my life. A good rain year meant we could kayak down the river, catch fish and it marked a successful business year. The continued drought is evidence in the lower water level  of  the river."

This was shared by Tallie C from  Sanger, CA

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Small Scale Drought

"This plant has been in my house for a year. Somehow, it's stopped getting the water it needs to flourish. It's a small scale drought."

This image was submitted by Natalie X from CA.

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UNdrinkable

"I took this photo at Morro Bay, a connection to the Pacific Ocean. A beautiful huge salty body of undrinkable water. Still in drought in California."

This was submitted by Kimberly C from CA.

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Yosemite

"The waterfalls are surprisingly still flowing during the drought."

This was submitted by Kashaun C from California.

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Rain Dance

"This photo is was taken in Madera, CA. It had been a pretty warm day. The sky opened an suddenly poured. Most people were happy. We demonstrated our gratitude by dancing in the rain. The water is hope and the joy is clearly visible on our faces."

This was shared by Citlaia H in CA.

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Grapes of Drought

"Water is  BIG in Sanger, California. A large quantity of fruits and vegetables are grown in the Central Valley. These grapes are watered twice a day. The drought is BIG in Sanger, California. We all try to conserve water."

This  was submitted by David C from Sanger, CA.

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Pier

waves

ping pong 

between pylons

crashing

on shore

This was submitted by Suzy M from CA

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The Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico,the ninth largest body of water on Earth, is  an ocean basin mostly surrounded by the North American continent. The Gulf region covers approximately 600,000 square miles, measuring approximately 995 miles from east to west, 560 miles from north to south. The American Mediterranean yields more finfish, shrimp, and shellfish annually than the south and mid-Atlantic, Chesapeake and New England areas combined.

"The Gulf oil spill is recognized as the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Within days of the April 20, 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 people, underwater cameras revealed the BP pipe was leaking oil and gas on the ocean floor about 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana. By the time the well was capped on July 15, 2010 (87 days later), an estimated 3.19 million barrels of oil had leaked into the Gulf."

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Candy Apple CRAB

This isn't a fiery red crab and this isn't Newport Beach but finding this little creature on shore was timed perfectly with the  current "invasion" of  thousands of red crabs along the southern beaches of California due the increasing warm temperature of the ocean. The rare pelagic red crab is  usually found farther south around Baja California. The possible trend could be the result of waters warming from El Nino. 

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Seagull

The grey and white scavenger bird lives close to the ocean but has been know to nest inland by lakes. It is known for it's acrobatic sky maneuvers and ability to float motionless on the wind current. 

"Living by the water, I take comfort in the other living creatures that share the same amazing resource."

This image was submitted by Mitch M. from CA.

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Succulents

Succulents sometime nicked named Fat Plants  are more thickened and fleshy allowing for water retention. These plants store water in their leaves and or stems. These internal reservoirs allow the succulent plant to survive harsh unfavorable periods without water.

Don't confuse the succulent with the cactus plant !

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The Kraken

Ok, it may not be the mythological creature from the depths of the ocean but this  cephalopod does  conjure stories of what dwells leagues beneath the sea. An octopus aka a cephalopod has two eyes and four pairs of arms and is bilaterally symmetric. They have keen eyesight and incredible sense of touch. Interestingly,two-thirds of an octopus's neurons are found in the nerve cords of its arms, which have limited functional autonomy. The next time you look out at the vast undrinkable salty oceans take moment to day dream about the world of creatures below the surface.

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Street Hose

" Dude! We're in a drought! "

This was shared by Gilbert P from San Francisco CA.

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Spring

"This is an artesian well that has used as a source of water for 1000's of years. It is currently  used by locals in Mariposa and Oakhurst, California. Even the the area is in a current high drought this spring seems eternal. It is said to be watched over by the Toad goddess who gives life. Water is life, ask any archeologist," anywhere you find water you will find the remains of ancient civilizations beneath the current one' "

This was shared by John P in Mariposa, CA.

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Yosemite Falls

"The mist trail is a beautiful hike in Yosemite National Park where the trail follows the bottom of one of the many falls and the spray and mist with the rocks and cliff bounce up and get hikers pretty wet.It's a fun trail and great way to spend your time. It's a must see for anyone- and viewing the amount of water coming down the walls is fantastic. This is supposed to be  our driest year in California but there have been many years when the falls are sad cliff faces. So seeing this much water in June is a great sign of hope. Plus it looks like rain on the horizon!"

This was submitted by Gabe in Fresno, California.

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"Man's Best Friend"

"Kali's favorite part of the week is a run on the beach and a swim in the ocean. We didn't teach Kali to like water. It was a natural instinct."

This image was shared by Mary S from Watsonville, CA.

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Hollister

"This ranch in Hollister, California is home to cattle, white pelicans, herons and egrets.It's not just a ranch but a safe landscape with water for wildlife."

This image was shared by Kathleen N from Hollister, CA.

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Stagneros Brothers

"Stagneros Brothers, an international wholesale and retail fish market started 75 years ago by grandpa Stagneros. The restaurant and open air market are on the wharf in San Francisco."

This image  was sent by Gary S from Santa Cruz CA.

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World Oceans Day

June 8th is World Oceans Day. It is a United Nations-recognized day of ocean celebration and action. This year, the theme is Healthy oceans, healthy planet,  with a special focus on the decrease of plastic pollution.

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Trivia Crack

"Even game apps know that the world would be happy with a little extra rain.."

This image was submitted by Sergio from Orange Cove, CA.

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Drought + Summer = Forest Fires

 

The summer season brings vacation, picnics, & fun in the sun. It also brings a remarkably increased potential for forest fires. Arid lands become easy kindling in the summer months and having water to fight the inevitable out break of wild fires. The U.S. Forest service website has an active page that maps forecasted fire danger areas.

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Got Board?

"When you live by the ocean, you play in the water. No matter the season. The ocean is a way of life. You play but you respect it."

This image was shared by Bryce E.

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Expired Water 

"Berry growers, Pete and Tiffany P, keep fifty 5 gallon bottles of water on their ranch for the the workers 'incase of an emergency'. After X amount of time the water is dumped on the thirsty land and replaced with fresh drinking water for human consumption"

The image is shared by Pete and Tiffany P.

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ICE

The average American buys four bags of packaged ice each year, 80 percent of it between Memorial and Labor Day.  Just like bottled water, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates packaged ice in interstate commerce as a food, just like other foods.However the FDA does not inspect small packaged ice producers, like retail stores, that make and package ice directly for the consumer and only for intrastate sales.

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Kelp Forest

Kelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Earth. A host of invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and birds exist in kelp forest environs.  Major threats to the health of various kelp forests include marine pollution and water quality, kelp harvesting and fisheries, invasive species and climate change.

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San Padreo

"The San Pedro River in southeastern Arizona is at peace most of the year, looking more like a creek than a river. It offers beauty and solitude. It offers retreat from the high desert winds and sun. During the monsoon, the river, which flows north from Mexico, fills from the surging rains and displays the power of water. It can be awesome and frightening, but it always finds peace again."

These images were shared by Keith A from Sierra Vista, Arizona.

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