River Notes Archive

S T R E A M L I N E S
News & Info for Paddlers
Updated 09/30/03

o The EPA's Office of Water encourages all citizens to learn about their water resources and supports volunteer monitoring because of its many benefits. Volunteer monitors build awareness of pollution problems, become trained in pollution prevention, help clean up problem sites, provide data for waters that may otherwise be unassessed, and increase the amount of water quality information available to decision makers at all levels of government. Among the uses of volunteer data are delineating and characterizing watersheds, screening for water quality problems, and measuring baseline conditions and trends. More.

o Most of the water that now enters the Los Angeles River year-round is from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in the Sepulveda Basin. Up to 75 million gallons of treated water are released daily into the river. That water is undrinkable but is treated well enough so that it presents no health hazards. However the storm drains along the various cities down river carry all kinds of contaminates into the river. More.

o If you haven’t been to Wingfield Park in downtown Reno lately, you are in for a surprise. More than 3,500 tons of boulders have been added to the north side of the park and along the Truckee River, lining the island park and creating a series of four pools in the main channel. More.

o Overall, near-neutral conditions are now observed in the equatorial Pacific. The below average ocean temperatures that developed in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific during May and early June returned to near average by July. Currently, slightly below average temperatures are confined to the far eastern tropical Pacific, average temperatures are observed in the east-central and central Pacific, and above average temperatures extend from the dateline westward. More.

Splashes: Water Art - S.F.Kern - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Condition Black

S T R E A M L I N E S
News & Info for Paddlers
Updated 07/09/03

o Since the sea is jazzy, complex, and changes over time, you should really take your time when scouting before setting out. First, check weather reports for an approaching storm or big swells. Assuming the weather doesn't scare you off, assess the conditions when you reach the water's edge. Get with your partners, and go through the Sea Conditions Rating Scale (SCRS) point by point. Discuss each factor until you reach consensus. Then move on to the next item. When finished, tally the score, convert to a class I-VI system, and determine whether everyone in your group can safely partake that day. More: Tsunami Rangers

o While working at the Museum of Man, traditional kayaks became my main focus of study. I traveled widely, visiting museums around the world with important kayak collections. I became adept at crawling around in cramped storage rooms taking lines off rare specimens. Plans were drafted from these lines to allow reproduction of authentic Arctic kayaks. More.

o Around the world, unruly rivers have long driven a hard bargain. In exchange for rich soil, irrigated land and convenient transportation, they have forced floodplain dwellers to deal with an occasional washout. Engineers have labored for thousands of years to lessen the risk, but their attempts at managing Mother Nature have been mixed -- often resulting in as much failure as success. More: NOVA

o La Niña conditions, marked by colder ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific, continued to develop for the second straight month, report scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md. More: NOAA

Splashes: St. Francis Dam Failure - S.F.Kern - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Condition Black