This morning from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America’s Waterways and also Psalm 91…. From the website of the California Dept. Of Parks & Recreation: “The Beach is a popular fishing area featuring King Fish, Sole, Flounder, Bocaccio (Tomcod), Jacksmelt, King Cod, Cabezon, Salmon, Steelhead, and occasional Rockfish. The Beach features the Pajaro River Estuary where a natural preserve has been set aside and provides for scenic panoramic views of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, a Federal Marine Protected Area. The sandy BEACH is also popular with bird watchers and equestrians, horses are only allowed near the waterline. Swimming and watersports are hazardous because of strong. rip-currents.”

This morning from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for Protection of America’s Waterways and also Psalm 91…From the website: www.smericanrivers.orh “Rusing on the eastern border of the Tahoe National Forest, the Yuba’d North, Middke, and South forks all have distinct characteristics, but each share the beauty of the Sierra Nevada surroundings — and the legacy of mining and hydropower that comes with it. The regions historic Gold Rush once made it the most productive placer mining rivers in California, with operations quickly turning large scale industrial hydraulic mining before the practice was banned. And the steep, narrow canyons proved just a little too tempting to scquatic engineers, who left their mark with more than 30 dams, 20 powerhouses, and more than 500 miles of cabals sprawling across the watershed.”

Today February 21, 2024 is actually my 24th consecutive day of declaring the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America’s Waterways and also Psalm 91 from my home in Central California. The 24th letter of the alphabet is “X” and I couldn’t find any California waterway that started with the letter “X”…. So today’s post is more of a praise, the definition of XYLEM: “The Xylem transports water & nutrients from the roots up to all the rest of the tree… Kind of like a straw.” (This was shared with me by a very dear friend - a retired Speech Therapist and most importantly the Matriarch of an agricultural family here in my County).

This morning February 20 from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. From the website if the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID): "In 1915, SSJID encountered a water shortage resulting from a lack of precipitation the previous winter. To minimize crop damage from similar shortages in the future, SSJID constructed Woodward Reservoir near Oakdale. The Reservoir, named after one of the District's founding board members was completed in 1916 and increased SSJID storages capacity by 36,000 acre feet."

This morning from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. Lake Vernon is in Tuolumne County and the best description is from Wikipedia: "Lake Vernon is located in the Tiltill Valley in the Northern section of Yosemite National Park just north of Hetch Hetchy Valley. The surface elevation of the Lake is 6,568 ft. Due to the remote location of the Lake it is usually only accessed as a backpacking destination. The area surrounding the Lake was once home to a band of Sierra Miwuk Indians and numerous artifacts can be found in the area. Lake Vernon is the _____ of Falls Creek which feeds Wapama Falls."

This morning from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. "Utica Water & Power Authority is a Joint Powers Authority that was formed in 1996 between the Union Public Utility District and the City of Angels Camp. A staff of 10 operate an intricate 27 mile long water conveyance system consisting of Gold Rush era earthen ditches, wooden flumes, and five reservoirs to move water from Avery to Angels Camp. The water serves residential, commercial, and agricultural needs of nearly 10,000 people. Utica also operates two hydroelectric power plants-- one in Murphys and one in Angels Camp." This description comes from Utica Water & Power's excellent website, which also includes an 11 minute video "Water - Our Gold!"

This morning February 17, 2023 from my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways. The best description for the Tuolumne River comes from Wikipedia: "The Tuolumne River flows 149 miles through Central California from the high Sierra Nevada to join the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. Originating at over 8,000 feet above sea level in Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne drains a watershed of 1,958 square miles, carving a series of canyons through the western slopes of the Sierra. While the upper Tuolumne is a fast-flowing mountain stream, the lower river crosses a broad, fertile and extensively cultivated alluvial plain. Like most other Central California rivers, the Tuolumne is dammed multiple times for irrigation and the generation of hydroelectricity."

This morning February 16 from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. The best description came from Wikipedia: "The Stanislaus River is a tributary of the San Joaquin River. The main stem of the River is 96 miles long and measured to its furthest headwaters is 150 miles long. Originating as three forks in the high Sierra Nevada the River flows generally southwest through the San Joaquin Valley to join the San Joaquin (River) south of Manteca, draining five California Counties. The Stanislaus River is known for its swift rapids and scenic canyons in the upper reaches and is heavily used for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and domestic water supply."

This morning from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. Relief Reservoir is at the 7,100 foot elevation . "Only four miles from Kennedy Meadows rests the 189 acre Relief Reservoir. The Dam was constructed in the early 19th Century when all the equipment had to be hauled into the back country along a steep, rugged road. Steam powered winches were used to drag the heaviest equipment up the granite road. " --> according to the website www.sonorapassvacation.com.(http://www.sonorapassvacation.com)

This morning while visiting at Fresno State, while on my way home from the World Ag Expo in Tulare, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways. QUAIL LAKE is a man-made lake in Los Angeles County. According to the Jeffrey Walters on the website b(http://websitebestfishinginamerica.com)bestfishinginamerica.com.(http://bbestfishinginamerica.com) " Quail Lake is a holding reservoir for the California Aqueduct System, connected to nearby Pyramid Lake and other Southern California water and electricity supply facilities. The water pumped into this reservoir, typically at night brings in both game fish and plenty of food species such as shad, allowing stripers, cats and other game fish to reach impressive sizes despite the unimpressive setting."

This morning from my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. PARDEE DAM is located near the town of Valley Springs. From the website of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), here are some milestones: 1852-Contra Costa Village with a population approaching 2,000 is incorporated as the City of Oakland. 1923-EBMUD is organized on May 22. 1924-EBMUD acquires PARDEE water rights to the Mokelumne RIver. 1929-PARDEE DAM, highest in the world at that time, and the Mokelumne Acqueduct are completed. The first water deliveries from the Sierra Mountains to the East Bay occur June 23, 1929.

This morning February 12, 2024, from my home in Central California I declared GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways as well as Psalm 91. According to the Britannia website: "Located in Mono & Inyo it rises in the Sierra Nevada southeast of Yosemite National Park and flows about 120 miles generally west-southwest to Owens Lake (now dry). The River was among the first (1913) to be diverted to provide water to the City of Los Angeles."

This morning February 11th from my home in Central California, I declared GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. According to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers - Sacramento District Website: "New Hogan Lake is located in the oak & brush covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The water resource project was created in 1964 with the completion of New Hogan Dam and covers 6,342 land acres & 4,333 water acres. When full, the lake has 50 miles of shoreline and extends nearly eight miles upstream to the confluence of the north & south forks of the Calaveras River. The Dam provides flood protection to the City of Stockton and water for its irrigation, drinking, & hydroelectric power."

This morning February 10th from my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways as well as Psalm 91. The Mokelumne is a 95 mile large fish producing river. According to CalTrout Field Reporter Michael Wire, "The name Mokelumne means 'people of the fishnets' in Miwuk. There's five powerhouses and a network of dams built in the early 1900's that provide hydropower to local communities, water for municipalities, firefighting, & flood control. The network of infrastructure has helped the development of Amador & Calaveras Counties and is still a big part of the local water infrastructure."

Just now February 9 at my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways as well as Psalm 91. Lost Lake is owned and operated by the County of Fresno , located 19 miles north of the City of Fresno below Friant Dam.

This morning February 8, 2024 from my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers and Decrees for the Projection of America's Waterways and Psalm 91. Ever since, 🎶... the song "Kern River"

This morning February 7th, from my home in Central California, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Watereays as well as Psalm 91. June Lake (320 acres) is located at the 10,909 foot Carson Prak in Mono County. According to the website monocounty.org (http://monocounty.org): "June Lake is one of the best places to land a "Sierra Grand Slam" -- a rainbow, brown, brook, and cutthroat trout all in one day."

This morning February 6th, I declared the GH15 Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways and also Psalm 91. In the January "Western Farm Press" magazine, an article by Dan Keppern (Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance) titled "Unfair media reports aim to shame farm families." I'll just quote the first, second, and the last oaragraphs, (1) "Recently, an article was released by ProPublica that "exposes" Imperial Valley family farms in Southern California for using water to grow food." (2) "The article estimated how much Colorado River Water was being used by 20 farm families for their land, comparing that amount to other competing uses, and then listing each family's water use - by name. This is truly frightening given the polarized nature of today's society.." (L) " With the growing disconnect among consumers, farmers, and the agricultural processes that sustain the world, it is clear there is a need to bridge this knowledge gap and enlighten the public about the significance of farm water in our food production."

This morning February 5th from my home in Central California I declared the GH15 "Prayers & Decrees For The Protection of America's Waterways as well as Psalm 91. Hetch Hetchy has an interesting history, supplies the water for the City of San Francisco and wholesale to several other cities. According to the book: "Dam! Water, Power, Politics, , & Preservation in Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite National Park"... it's significant that the formation of the first two irrigation districts in the Nation were coonected with Hetch Hetchy--> The Turlock Irrigation District and The Modesto Irrigation District.'

This morning, from my home in Central California, I declared "Prayers & Decrees for the Protection of America's Waterways" and also Psalm 91 for all of the streams & creeks here in the Golden State. As I'd felt led on this Assignment (similar to last Sumner's "Paint Your State" when I did the California Counties in chronological order)... it appeared that I could do it daily alphabetically. So, most of the first week came automatically from water that I was familiar with or when I needed more, I searched with DuckDuckGo (anything besides Wikipedia). Also this morning the "Golden Gate" popped into my mind, reflecting that many of our ancestors first welcome to California was by ship through the real Golden Gate, either via Panama or around Cape Horn, the tip of South America.