A look at the progress so far as another storm looms
California has been some form of drought condition for most of the time since 2008. By September 2022 there were severe drought conditions in nearly all of the state. This was exacerbated by the driest first three months of any year at the beginning of 2022. Although December 2021 had precipitation and the snow pack was improved somewhat, it was not enough and this led to the extreme drought conditions by fall 2022.
Atmospheric Rivers are a dangerous threat, but also bring large amounts of moisture
Another storm front of this type is expected for the weekend, and, while most of us have had more than enough of the floods and generally wet nasty conditions, the chances for improving the historic drought extremes have increased and we can continue to benefit.
The atmospheric rivers that we’ve seen in near continuous succession have brought a significant amount of rain, snow and moisture, making this one of the wettest winters in the record books.
It has, unfortunately, also been a destructive and deadly series of storms and there is still a danger that that aspect of the phenomenon will continue as well.
The US Drought Monitor has data on the situation continuously compiled, and as can be seen in the maps above there has been some meaningful improvement in the severity of the drought conditions. In particular, the worst areas have been brought back from the most extreme designation toward a somewhat more moderate state.
Much of the water that flows throughout California has melting snow, mostly from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, as its source. In the best case, abundant snow fall during the winter, which creates a kind of natural reservoir, is released during the warmer weather in spring and early summer.
With a large storm this weekend, and perhaps at least one more wet episode before the seasons change, the snow pack could reach “above normal” levels, which would be a big help to the still dry condition in the state. It is even possible that the storms could help fuel a spectacular super bloom, like we had in 2019
DROUGHT UPDATE: The continuous storms have improved our drought conditions! California is no longer under EXTREME or EXCEPTIONAL drought. Look at where we were at the start of the water year. More rain on the way through next week. @nbcla#drought#Californiapic.twitter.com/Q4lwIZV7tf
Photo Credit / Living Habitats and National Wildlife Federation
Magnificent bridge for LA wildlife survival
In conjunction with the #SaveLACougars movement, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and partners will begin the start of construction officially on April 22 to commemorate Earth Day. The groundbreaking will mark the world’s largest wildlife crossing which will cover 10 lanes of traffic on the very busy 101 freeway near Los Angeles. The project is currently slated for completion by early 2025 and has been dubbed as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.
The Wildlife crossing will cost nearly $90 million, with 60% of the price already covered by private donations and the remainder from public funds meant for conservation purposes. Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg donated $25 million to the project
The overpass proposal and funding was inspired by a Los Angeles cougar named P-22 who crossed two freeways to settle in Griffith Park. Unfortunately most wildlife aren’t as lucky to make it safely and roam as nature intended, and this crossing will finally represent a potential solution to this problem.
“This crossing will save the local mountain lion population from extinction, stand as a global model for urban wildlife conservation — and show us that it’s possible for a structure of this magnitude to be built in a such a densely populated urban area”
-Beth Pratt, California Executive Director for NWF
The positive environmental impact will be coupled with an aesthetic improvement that should also please humans, based on the renderings above. With some of the most congested freeways in the world in and around LA, this exception to the endless asphalt sprawl would be a welcome change from the status quo. The crossing is slated to be completed within three years.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer / Netflix
Streaming started January 13. This historical limited series is a documentary that follows the young detective Gil Carrillo and legendary homicide investigator Frank Salerno as they work expeditiously to catch the “Night Stalker”. Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 LA lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won’t rest until they catch Richard Ramirez, who was eventually arrested for his terrible crimes.
A gradual climb up the internal Netflix chart has kicked the limited series up to #3 for the weekend. The quality of the presentation seems to be the draw and the time frame that it deals with – the mid-eighties – has been au du jour of late – with Wonder Woman 1984 and other films that focus on that unique decade and its zeitgeist. Check out the trailer below if you want a taste:
When stuck with coronavirus lemons, why not make lemonade?
In the continuing efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus, businesses in Los Angeles are getting creative. After Gov. Gavin Newsom released new guidelines for beauty services such as hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and massage parlors that prohibit any of these services to be conducted indoors, but that they could do so in the open air, an epidemic of new ideas was unleashed.
Those that have large parking lots, or adjacent green areas that could be used, began to brainstorm ways to make this not only possible, but even an improvement. Like outdoor dining, gyms, barbershops, nail salons and more are all setting up makeshift tents, gazebos and even shaded spinning classrooms to prevent spreading the virus while still living life and conducting business.
While it can’t be called business as usual, some of the west side businesses near the beach have shown true inspiration in “takin’ it to the streets” and have jumped right into the spirit, particularly in the case of the CycleBar in Culver City. After transforming their parking lot into a spinning / stationary bike studio and collaborating with Anytime Fitness to build a provisional outdoor weight-room and workout area, the results are downright celebratory…
Through the spread of Covid-19 continues, a glimmer of hope can be seen in efforts to live life while staying safe
If not for the masks and face shields, one might think these are photos from a spring fitness festival in 2018, long before the pandemic had clipped our wings and made such activities a challenge or even a danger.
Nearby on 4031 Sepulveda, in Culver City, Active Barbers have similarly set up shop on the sidewalk with a stylish and festive looking row of outdoor canopies, each with a full-on barbers chair adjacent to all the tools of the trade. Once again, the masks worn by the barbers and clients are the only giveaway that this is not part of a larger outdoor summer celebration.
Above: Photo Credit / PBS
Rose Bowl in Pasadena featuring Drive-in Films during July
Click to see “Drive” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores
Another example of Angelenos taking things outdoors to find entertainment and relaxation is the Tribeca DRIVE-IN movie theater series at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Taking place during July on Thursday – Sunday. The Tribeca Film organization is also staging similar events all around the US this summer. In addition to Pasadena, CA events are planned for Orchard Beach – Bronx, NY, Nickerson Beach – Nassau County, NY, AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX and Hardrock Stadium – Miami, FL.
These high profile venues are an addition to the wave of Drive-in theaters that have sprung up all over the US in response the the pandemic and the availability of large outdoor spaces that can be adapted for big-screen fun.
Drive-in Concert Series fights back against the dearth of live entertainment options
In another related California story, the LA Times chronicled the recent emergence of drive-in concerts at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Once again it’s the safety benefits of the open California sea breezes that are at the core of the drive to live outdoors and free. Recent acts performing to a sea of cars included the LA based Ska-Funk-Punk band Fishbone along with Ozomatli.
Cars not directly encircling the stage where given an assist by large sports-venue like LED screens and an audio-assist via an FM radio signal, two hi-tech niceties that would have been missing if this were in the drive-in and drive-though era of 1962.
The producer of the concert series predicted that, sadly, a normal concert schedule with large indoor and outdoor venues being booked and where audiences do not have to be separated into cars, is likely not going to be a reality before 2022.
This reality, even if it turns out to be the worst case, is still an indicator of how all the business in this article are proving that necessity really is the mother of invention. With sales and traffic across some many industries “falling off a cliff” it will take drastic and wildly creative measures just for companies to survive, let alone prosper.
Indeed, the drive in concert series can only hope to bring in 10% of the usual number of people that would attend a similar bill at an indoor venue. The costs are higher and the income less, a formula, not for huge profit, but to make enough to keep all parties involved, from the artists to the producers to the production help and stage hands, above water until some kind of normalcy returns.
The overall impression from all these special business, however, is one of triumphant survival, resilience, health and strength. The exact qualities needed at this time in history, and not coincidentally, the same for which LA is known, along with Hollywood Movies, throughout the world.
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