Jenna Olsen
Friday, August 5, 2005

This summer, waterfalls that normally trickle instead roar, rivers surge through their channels at higher flows than usual, and the fishing is outstanding. Vacationers are soaking in the glories of rivers like the spectacular Tuolumne, which flows through Yosemite National Park, the Stanislaus National Forest and the Central Valley.

Only in years such as this, with exceptionally abundant snowpack and water, do we see California’s rivers and bays approximating the health and splendor they displayed before they were dammed and diverted to provide water for families, farms and businesses. While the Golden State’s highly engineered water system has brought benefits, it has also come at a great cost.

Read more at The San Francisco Chronicle.