#big water

[wachinyeya]

A historically and culturally significant lake in California's San Joaquin Valley that first disappeared in 1898 has returned after last year's atmospheric rivers flooded the region.

Tulare Lake, known as Pa'ashi — or "big water" — to the local Tachi Yokut Tribe, was "once the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi River," per Earth.com.

Vivian Underhill, who published a paper on Tulare Lake as a postdoctoral research fellow at Northeastern University, noted it was mostly sustained by snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains and was 100 miles long and 30 miles wide at its peak.

The lake served as a key resource for Indigenous Peoples and wildlife and was once robust enough to allow steamships to transport agricultural goods throughout the state.

However, government officials persecuted and displaced the indigenous communities in the late 1800s to convert the area for farming through draining and irrigation.

"They really wanted to get [land] into private hands so that indigenous land claims — that were ongoing at that time — would be rendered moot by the time they went through the courts," Underhill told the Northeastern Global News. "It was a deeply settler colonial project."

While Pa'ashi periodically reappeared during the 1930s, '60s, and '80s, the barrage of atmospheric rivers California experienced in 2023 revived the lake despite the region receiving just 4 inches of rain annually. According to Underhill, Tulare Lake is now the same size as Lake Tahoe, which is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide.

Its resurgence has led to the return of humid breezes at least 10 degrees cooler than average and native species, including fish, amphibians, and birds. Lake Tulare was once a stopping point for migratory birds traveling a route known as the Pacific Flyway.

"Something that continues to amaze me is — [the birds] know how to find the lake again," Underhill told the Northeastern Global News. "It's like they're always looking for it."

The Tachi Yokuts have also returned to Pa'ashi's shores, once again practicing their ceremonies and planting tule reeds and native sage.

[kimio7]

Convulsing everyday im away from the ocean like some fucked up saltwater mermaid that needs to snort sea salt to survive

[unholyeldritch]

The big blue.

[the-siphonophore]

Reminding myself of the post where someone googled Big Water in the middle of the night, thinking it would summon a drink

*wishing for Big Tea*

[atwas-meme-ing]

#big big big big water #it's very big big big big water

water is so so tasty and tastier than any of your foolish monster drinks this is true im sorry. this blog is sponsored by big water (the ocean)

[egophiliac]

gargoyle Mal is everything I've ever dreamed of and more. his little raincoat! his umbrella! I hope he really does have big ol' stompy rainboots to splash around in puddles in. I hope they have little faces on them.

(Twst please give me Malleus having a rainy day adventure, this is everything I need right now)

[noproveninterests]

Inktobertale Day 13: Bells

he can no longer menace local birds. or Errors.

ink belongs to @/comyet

dream belongs to @/jokublog

error belongs to @/loverofpiggies

blue belongs to Popcornpr1nce/AU Community

[demaparbat-hp]

She will (and he'll let her)

[foggyroses]

Silly fool

Should have gotten beeg worter

tired of constantly getting up to get more water. time for Big Water

[itsnotokaytobeokay]

Cold weather was invented my water company so you would leave you water dripping at night and they would make more money

[photographss-world]

softly the waves are trilling 🌊🌊🌊

[tangledspice075]

remember last season people not wanting Joel to win because then they would have to draw him in the life merch?

WELL NOW ITS HAPPENED

AND ITS SOOOOO MUCH WORSE

[ryllen]

Another pokemon twst assignments

[ithurtswhennn]

Miss Donatella 🔥🔥

Smoke on the Water

Deep Purple

[tinyfantasminha]

living burger meat

[psygull-arts]

And you may say to yourself, "My God, what have I done?"