Dry Valley
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By John Wiley
After our light rain, we wondered if the Santa Ynez Valley might be a shade greener but discovered it still looks dry. We didn't expect Cachuma to be any more full, and it didn't. Seeing the "drinking straw" pulling State water through the dam is still there of course. But looking back up the river, the whole valley just looks "thirsty" if that can apply to landscape.
10 Comments
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Oct 06, 2018 02:20 PMIs that the state water pipe coming through the dam open door thats 4th on the right? Would that little amount of water be enough to keep the lake from going dry?
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Oct 06, 2018 02:39 PMOf course it's still dry... That was hardly any rain lol
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Oct 06, 2018 02:53 PMYes, that must be the state water line. Looks small from the air but it has constant flow which would add up. Does seem tiny though given the amount of water in the dam.
The photos are Beautiful!
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Oct 06, 2018 03:25 PMCampground beach colors vs. geometry of the dam pic - glad not to choose which I like more. There's an austere beauty in the wide shot up the valley but it just doesn't grab me in the same way. I'm curious which is (are) your favorite(s) and why, because sometimes a pic can be appealing to me for reasons beyond reason. Even deep in drought, our region is so beautiful to me. :)
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Oct 06, 2018 03:27 PMThanks for the report and photos. It doesn't take much rain to start the greening process. Give it a few days and maybe little green blades will spring up. One problem is if they go too long w/o another drink they dry up and that's it for this year of annual grasses even with more rain later.
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Oct 06, 2018 04:15 PMThe amount of state water coming in is just about enough to compensate for the daily evaporation rate.
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Oct 06, 2018 06:57 PMThe creatures downstream are probably very happy. Thanks for the photos, John.
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Oct 06, 2018 09:28 PMThanks! I've missed you and your reports and photos.
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Oct 09, 2018 06:46 AMJohn, please continue to post photos. Also, your comments are appreciated on others' posts. Hang in there. Thanks for all the years of your contributions!
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Oct 09, 2018 06:52 AMRain Thursday, 40% chance according to Weather Underground: "Thursday 10/11. Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day. High 66F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%." More chances for photography, John!