More Valley days

My exploration of this beautiful Valley continued with a trip to Stone Lake Federal Wildlife Preserve last weekend, and today  to the Delta, south of Stockton. Federal guilds took about 16 of us on a 3 1/2 hour walk around the preserve.

The colors and textures are amazing this time of year, just before Spring. Before the trees leaf out the birds and nests can be seen. This is a closed preserve which has been undergoing levee repair for the past year. The damage continues and is very alarming because the creatures just don't care that the integrity of the levees is critical.

This tunnel was made by beavers, up one side, across the levee and down the other side, these beaver freeways pockmark and weaken the levees. We also say large muskrat holes, about 10" across, and smaller tunnels from gophers and snakes. The number we saw in the short distance we walked is an indication of the vulnerability of our levees. We are in trouble.

 

The white pelicans were the most stunning birds we saw, circling above and floating on the water. And today we crossed onto an Island in the Delta, south of Stockton.

The ferry was pulled by an ancient gear system.

A stunning view of Mount Diablo was revealed as the sun broke through, warming against a chilly Delta wind.

It's so very flat here, and fascinating, because only the levee keeps the water out, with riprap stained dark where the tidal pull. Last weekend we learned that a full moon pulls the water in the Delta up 12 to 18." 

This is what the Valley earth looks like, for those of us who only see it covered with concrete, asphalt and houses. The is the very rich soil that produces such a profuse bounty