Last night the skies were cloudy but the roof lacked the rhythms of rain. The Sierras have a low snow pack and long-term weather predictions are starting to dry up. A drought in 2008-2009 would be California’s third consecutive year of below average rainfall.
In 2008, California experienced its first complete closure of commercial and recreational ocean salmon fishing do to expected low returns to the Sacramento River system. 2009 is looking to be more of the same. This week, the California Department of Fish and Game started their first in what is sure to be a long-line of grumblings about expected low salmon returns for the 2009 season.
In related side notes: The state legislature is continuing to find more sensible ways of sending water south; California eagerly anticipates beginning its fourth decade of declining hunting and fishing licenses; The Golden State proudly continues its position as one of the world’s leading epicenters for endangered species.
New York Times article on predicted drought: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/us/02water.html
