Sink or Swim

" I'm not sure if this is taking dirty water to a new level or a visual poem of what is happening in California: DROUGHT.  Aquifers are being drained. Lands are sinking because so much water is being sucked from the ground. If we don't do something actively, we will turn on our taps and they will be dry."

This was submitted by David M in Fresno, CA.

My Your Our Water

Cholla

Cylindropuntia fulgida, the jumping cholla, also known as the hanging chain cholla, is a cholla cactus native to the Southwestern United States and Sonora. Cholla is a term applied to various shrubby cacti of this genus with cylindrical stems composed of segmented joints. These stems are actually modified branches that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production.The structure of cacti enables them to survive in hot, dry climates. Most have thick, fleshy stems with a waxy skin surface. The stem acts as a reservoir to store water. The tough skin keeps the water from evaporating. In addition, surfaces of most cacti can expand and contract to accommodate changes in the amount of water.

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Mermaid

 Alfred Lord Tennyson 1830

Who would be A mermaid fair, Singing alone, Combing her hair Under the sea, In a golden curl With a comb of pearl, On a throne? II. I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb’d I would sing and say, “Who is it loves me? who loves not me?” I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall, Low adown, low adown, From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone With a shrill inner sound, Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea Would feel their immortality Die in their hearts for the love of me. III. But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play With the mermen in and out of the rocks; We would run to and fro, and hide and seek, On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells, Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea. But if any came near I would call, and shriek, And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells; For I would not be kiss’d by all who would list, Of the bold merry mermen under the sea; They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me, In the purple twilights under the sea; But the king of them all would carry me, Woo me, and win me, and marry me, In the branching jaspers under the sea; Then all the dry pied things that be In the hueless mosses under the sea Would curl round my silver feet silently, All looking up for the love of me. And if I should carol aloud, from aloft All things that are forked, and horned, and soft Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me. My Your Our Water

 

Muddy Conditions

"The last vestiges of El Nino have watered the thirsty lettuce crops in Salinas and left the roads in muddy conditions. I'm ready to hit the salad bar!"

This image was submitted by Frank B from Salinas

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Lettuce

The Salinas River, which geologically formed the fluvial valley flows to the northwest or 'up' along the principal axis and length of the valley. Each year more than 80 percent of the salad greens consumed in the United States are grown in the Salinas Valley, which lies a few miles inland from Monterey Bay. According to the water footprint  organization, "the global average water footprint of lettuce is 63.4 gallons. However, the water footprint is different from place to place. For example in China and the USA, the two largest producing countries, lettuce has a water footprint of 76.5 gallons and  29.06, respectively."  

This image was submitted from Salinas, CA. 

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From Sierras to the Orchards

"Beautiful clean water flows down the foothills of the Eastern Sierra and is pumped into the orchards to grow foods such as peaches, apricots, and almonds in the central valley town of Reedley, California."

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Boat Bottom

"This photo was taken on from the bottom of a glass boat. I was on a sub boat tour watching the fishes and marine life in Morrow Bay."

 

This was submitted by Agustin U from Southern California.

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SoCal

 " This is water in it's recreational form. Southern California is a beautiful area where people love to surf, swim and fish."

This was submitted by Agustin U from Southern California.

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Water Delivery

" California Highway: Got Water? "

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Agriculture Farm

 "We use water every day. We use water for bathing,washing, toilets,drinking, growing food. Sometimes, we are not aware of how important our water is to us.We should start conserving it. Without water we wouldn't have life."

  

This was submitted by Liliana V from the agriculture farm at Reedley College

My Your Our Water