I am back from vacation and catching up. While not on Zoom last week, I thought often about things related to UC ANR. We traveled back on CA-20 across the north side of Clear Lake. I was shocked to see the low water level. Immediately I reflected on a trip to SoCal that Mark Bell and I made a few years back where we took a side trip to Bombay Beach, a depressing site that was apparently a waterside resort at some point in the mid-1900s. While Bombay Beach may be making a slow comeback, I can only imagine Clear Lake following a similar path of demise if the climate change trajectory doesn't turn around quickly. We can't wait for the next generation to have different behaviors. Recently, CNN interviewed our own Josh Davy about the severity of California's ongoing drought. Josh gave a great interview that was sobering, to say the least.
The uptick in COVID is equally sobering and expected, unfortunately. I found an interesting read about COVID impacts. Let's hope we move fully into recovery phase soon. We've talked a bit over the last 16 months about who we've reached in our programming that perhaps we hadn't reached before, because more of our programming has been conducted virtually. Next month, I facilitate a discussion among national extension directors about who we've left behind. Any insights any of you have to share are welcomed. I will be sure to add your observations to the discussion. My hope for the session is to leave with action items; not only identify concerns.
I am excited to onboard Vice Provost Bunn next week! There's considerable activity right now with partnership development, Program Council activity, and program support. There is no shortage of activity; I have no concerns that boredom will set in for me. I hope Vice Provost Bunn doesn't have a fire at SFREC as his first issue. Let's all hope the fire in Yuba County is contained quickly and everyone in Brown's Valley stays safe! Same across the entire state!