drought

Mired in a three-year-long drought, 2011-present, Californians might have been confused at the strange liquid substance that was falling from the sky during the first two weeks of December. Precipitation had been in short supply across the state, with reservoir levels remarkably low and “exceptional drought” (the worst level of drought) existing over 55 percent of the state as of the first week of December.

A couple of years ago a friend introduced my husband and me to persimmons. The ‘Fuyu’ she gave us to eat was the flatter type of persimmon that can be eaten while still firm like an apple. It is a non-astringent type of persimmon, rather than the astringent type that needs to be “mushy and pudding-like” (Sunset Western Garden Book) to be ripe, or it will make your mouth pucker. My husband asked me if we could grow the firm persimmons here.

The snowpack in the Sierra continues to reflect the drought conditions that have stressed Northern Nevada in recent years.
For the third year in a row, the Truckee Meadows and other nearby basins on the Eastern Sierra have only about two thirds of the normal snowpack. Or, put another way: we’ve lost a year’s worth of precipitation in this most recent drought cycle.

As I have done for many years, my last article of the year, each year, is to present the Don Q Awards for a number of different reasons. Those reasons include such assorted things as: Outstanding, memorable, good, not so good, questionable, bad, serious, funny, dumb, head-scratching, are-you-kidding, etc.

These awards are presented to all kinds of people or places or things for what has occurred throughout the year.
It’s a fun way to end the year for yours truly.

So, without further ado, here are the 2014 Don Q Award winners:
Best Birthday Present:

On the receding shoreline of Washoe Lake, Alexandra Voss snapped photos of dead fish and sent it to News 4. She says there are hundreds of eyeless fish, and notes that there is no real odor, no flies, birds, or any other predator anywhere in sight.
As mysterious as the Carp look, Chris Healy, spokesman for The Nevada Department of Wildlife, says he isn't surprised.

Nevada is suffering from a debilitating drought, experiencing the impacts of a warming climate and, some say, is deficient when it comes to long-term water planning for the state as a whole.
Debate is mounting over the need to begin development of a comprehensive water plan taking into account available water supplies, drought, climate projections and development that will tap limited water resources across the nation's most arid state.

The success of the pilot program for fire cameras at Lake Tahoe has prompted the University of Nevada, Reno’s Nevada Seismological Laboratory to pursue funding to build out its fire camera network that rings the majestic mile-high lake.

“We’ve seen the system avert potentially large fires this summer at Tahoe, even with its minimal presence,” Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, said of the prototype system with its four cameras. “It makes sense to build this system out now to help protect the basin from devastating fires.”

It's safe to say that we are now ready for winter, here at our home in Carson City and at the Quilici Cabin near Davis Lake in Plumas County, Calif. Forecasters are calling for a winter storm to blow in Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. It takes quite a bit of time and effort, but each year a whole host of activities take place at both locations in anticipation of Old Man Winter's arrival.
Here's what I mean:

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Nov. 26, 2014 and beyond.

No matter how you do it, either by asking, wishing or praying, we need snow. Lots of snow. Feet of deep snow this winter. Elaine and I took a ride last Sunday to take some photos in Alpine County, and we also took our fishing equipment if we decided to fish somewhere.

We were undecided as to where to fish, but thought that we would check out some of the waters along State Route 88 and at other spots. As it turned out, we did not fish and for a darn good reason.

This is my annual reminder that many California waters will close to fishing on Saturday, November 15.
So if you want to fish any of them, you better hustle because you are rapidly running out of time.
Those waters will not re-open until the last Saturday in April next year (April 25, 2015), and that is a long, long time to wait to wet your line.
Here is a partial list of some of the nearby waters that will be closing:

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is offering workshops Nov. 17 – 20 in Gardnerville, Yerington, Fallon and Lovelock for Nevada agricultural producers to help them plan for the possibilities of a fourth year of drought. “Agriculture in Times of Drought,” will give farmers and ranchers information on how to be resilient to variable weather in Nevada.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service warns of potential freezing temperatures again tonight through Tuesday morning for the Carson City area and western Nevada region. And as an added bonus, the likelihood of the fall season's first significant snow event at Lake Tahoe beginning Friday.

Last week, Rob Buonamici of Carson City and I spent a fun-filled day, "supposedly" scouting for buck mule deer.
I say supposedly, because we actually spent the day, having a ton of fun, enjoying the scenery and my taking a whole bunch of photos (over 60!) We were in Nevada's Big Game Management Area 192.

That Management Area is bounded by U.S. 50 on the north side, the California state line on the south side, U.S. 395 on the east side and Lake Tahoe on the west side.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 22, 2014.

Winter is headed our way, but what kind of winter can we expect? See the short video below that summarizes the drought situation in Nevada and California, what's up with El Nino, and the official NOAA winter outlook just released Thursday. Share with your friends and communities who may be interested in what this winter might bring.

Autumn has come gently this year with hot weather continuing into October. The leaves are finally turning color. At University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners are often asked why leaves change color. Is the cold responsible?

Quaking Aspen trees are currently at their peak around the Sierra. You can also enjoy fall colors turning among the thousands of trees, bushes and shrubs right here in Carson City.

This is my annual reminder to enjoy the colorful displays of the leaves on Quaking Aspen trees, also known as "quakies" at this time of the year. Last Saturday, Elaine and I took a drive to Hope Valley, Calif., to see those colors and they are different this year, as compared to the past.

This year, and, obviously, due to the prolonged drought we have been experiencing, the leaves are not as vibrant as in previous years. In fact, there is an interesting mix of no leaves, green leaves and yellow leaves, often in the very same grove of quakies.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 1-7, 2014.

Due to the ongoing drought, limited water in the Carson River impacts fish and wildlife habitats, especially by the end of summer. To enhance flows along the West Fork of the Carson River, the Carson Water Subconservancy District is utilizing their storage water rights to supplement water in the watershed.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Sept. 17-23, 2014.

The second Free Fishing Day in 2014 in California will be this Saturday, Sept. 6. The first was way back on Saturday, July 5. On Saturday you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need to buy a fishing license.
However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever waters you will be fishing.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Sept. 3-10, 2014.

Visitors and locals alike will find a variety of activities to enjoy in South Lake Tahoe Sunday, culminating with the Annual Labor Day Fireworks show.

The show features a simultaneous music broadcast that can be heard on local stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL - AM 1490. Show begins at 8:30 p.m. The fireworks are visible from all over town.

This is a reminder that the big Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 29 through Monday Sept. 1, is coming up. The weather forecast is promising, and for countless folks in this general area, it will be their last big outdoor adventure of 2014.

Be advised that no matter where you go, unless it is to some God-forsaken location in the middle of nowhere, you can expect to encounter big crowds of people also wanting to enjoy an outdoor outing for the holiday.
So, be prepared for lots of company wherever you go or whatever you do.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Aug 20-27. Varying conditions exist due to extreme drought conditions.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will present six “Grow Your Own, Nevada!” classes at seven locations across northern Nevada to provide information to homeowners, gardeners, landscapers and farmers who want their lawns to survive and thrive in a desert climate.

“Recurring droughts are a fact of life for Nevadans,” Cooperative Extension Horticulture Specialist Heidi Kratsch said. “This program will teach homeowners how to create and care for landscapes that are resilient to drought events, yet outstandingly beautiful. Yes, it is possible.”

Lowering a white disk off a boat and into Lake Tahoe’s blue waters was once the most widely used indicator of the lake’s clarity and health. Today, the Secchi disk is still an important tool, but 46 years after the University of California, Davis, first began continuous monitoring of Lake Tahoe, an array of new technologies and computer models are helping scientists better understand what has proven to be a complex ecosystem.

Managing water in northern Nevada’s Truckee-Carson River System requires local communities to balance urban, agricultural and ecosystem needs. Changes in historical climate trends are increasingly expected to make this balancing act more challenging. A competitive grant totaling $3.8 million has been awarded to the University of Nevada, Reno and the Desert Research Institute in partnership with the U.S.