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enterprise THE DAVIS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022
Davis swelters in record-high temperatures
‘To hell with it’
By Caleb Hampton Enterprise staff writer
“The unlawful diversion sets a terrible precedent that irrigators can egregiously violate state water rights and impact listed
Temperatures in Davis and the surrounding region hit record highs on Monday and Tuesday, rising to 113 degrees in Davis on Tuesday afternoon. As of that evening, daily highs were forecast to remain in the triple digits through Friday, with overnight lows ranging from 69 to 72 degrees. Some nearby cities notched even higher temperatures. “We just hit 116 degrees in Downtown Sacramento. That is the new All-Time highest temperature for Downtown Sacramento. Old record was 114 on July 17, 1925,” the National Weather Service tweeted Tuesday just after 5 p.m. The extreme heat brought many activities to a halt. On Monday, Yolo Food Bank (YFB) announced it had cancelled two food distribution events planned for this week for the health and safety of volunteers and community members, the organization said. The Davis Farmers Market also announced Monday it had cancelled its Wednesday market. State and local government agencies warned that rolling power outages could hit Davis and other cities across California as widespread air conditioning usage strained the energy grid. On Tuesday afternoon,
See WATER, Page A4
See SWELTERS, Page A5
Jim Scala, a rancher in Siskiyou County, looks out over his dry stock pond in Montague on Aug. 29. Scala and others defied a state order to stop pumping water from the Shasta River. Martin do Nascimento/ CalMatters photo
Ranchers, tribes, state clash over Shasta River water By Rachel Becker CalMatters The land that Jim Scala and his family have been ranching for three generations is parched and brown as far as he can see. The pond where his cattle used to drink is now a puddle, ringed with cracked mud. In other years, water pumped from the Shasta River would have periodically flooded this land, keeping his pasture alive
and pond full. But the state had ordered Scala and other ranchers and farmers in rural Siskiyou County to stop irrigating when the drought-plagued river dipped below a certain level. With bills mounting from trucking in water and buying hay to replace dead pasture, and facing the prospect of selling half his herd, Scala and others made a decision to defy the state’s order.
“We said, ‘To hell with it,’” Scala said. “‘We’re starting the pumps.” In a single day in midAugust, the Shasta River’s flows dropped by more than half and stayed there for a week, which could jeopardize the salmon and other fish that spawn there. Klamath river tribes were outraged, and California water regulators sounded the alarm.
The State Water Resources Control Board ordered the Shasta River Water Association, which serves roughly 110 farms and ranches in central Siskiyou County, to stop pumping. Fines would start at $500 per day but could rise to $10,000 after a 20-day waiting period or a hearing.
Engineers study birds in flight
Farm Circle kicks off year with Newcomers Welcome Special to The Enterprise
By Andy Fell Special to The Enterprise People have been fascinated by bird flight for centuries, but exactly how birds can be so agile in the air remains mysterious. A new study, published the week of Sept. 5 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses modeling and aerodynamics to describe how gulls can change the shape of their wings to control their response to gusts or other disturbances. The lessons could one day apply to uncrewed aerial vehicles or other flying machines. “Birds easily perform challenging maneuvers and they’re adaptable, so what exactly about their flight is most useful to implement in future aircraft?” said Christina Harvey, assistant professor in the department of
See BIRDS, Page A5
VOL. 124 NO. 107
INDEX
Classifieds ������ A5 Forum ��������������B2 Obituary ���������� A4 Comics ������������B4 Green Page ������ A3 Sports ��������������B1 Events ��������������B5 Living ����������������B3 The Wary I �������� A2
AdobeStock photo
Scientists have been studying birds in flight since Leonardo da Vinci.
WEATHER Thursday: Sunny and still scorching. High 112. Low 72.
University Farm Circle is an active local group that supports UC Davis by providing scholarships, while encouraging friendships and enrichment through its many programs and activities. UFC begins the 202223 year by inviting women of nearby communities to attend the annual Newcomers Welcome. The festivities will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road in Davis. This informal gathering brings together women of all ages and interests,
whether new to the local communities or long-time residents, who would like to make new friends and learn more about UFC and its many programs. Some programs are especially designed to be of interest to newcomers. Ongoing interest sections encourage the exploration of activities for all members. At the Newcomers Welcome, new and ongoing members will be able to sign up for specific interest sections after the short general program, where board members will describe the many activities offered by
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See WELCOME, Page A2
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