January 01, 2012

high and dry at China Camp


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photo by Donald Kinney

The way I see it, problems for China Camp go way beyond California's massive budget problem which will probably force closure of this State Park near San Rafael some time next year.

San Pablo Bay (the upper thumb of San Francisco Bay), is connected via the Sacramento Delta to two of California's two major rivers, the Sacramento and San Joaquin, and over the years Mercury and Cyanide used in the gold refining process has leached into tributaries of the Sacramento and San Joaquin.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

The other problem is that salinity levels in San Pablo Bay have risen over the years to the point where Bay Shrimp no longer thrive. Frank Quan nets a meager catch today compared to the tons that were pulled out a century ago.

Diversion of fresh water for irrigation of Central Valley farms through the California Aqueduct has cut the amount of fresh water eventually entering San Pablo Bay. Prior to water diversion, San Pablo Bay would flush itself out, keeping it's salinity low--a more conducive environment for Bay Shrimp.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

It's a pile of beached boats. I don't know the proper term. If they were in the water they could be called a flotilla. Perhaps it is what it is--just a pile.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This project has been sitting here a full year now--Frank was fiber-glassing a dinghy but this is as far as he's gotten. A bit of sanding and a few coats of marine paint and this baby is going to be good as new.


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2 comments:

Tomate Farcie said...

Beautiful shots, especially the first one!

photowannabe said...

Great shots. Love the fog working its way around everything.

 
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