Redding made it to 111 today

The day for me was pretty good but I wasn't in Redding. Instead a friend and I took two inflatable kayaks and went up to Castle Lake which was at about 85 degrees air temperature.

However, what was new for me was that the water temperature(at 6000 feet)  was in the 70s here in June, with the lake not freezing over for two years now(it hasn't done this since I was born except the last 2 years). So, definitely we are not only in a drought cycle but also in a heat cycle.

So, for example, I have been skiing across this lake in January, February and sometimes March since about 1976 (almost every year). And every year it at least froze over even if I couldn't ski across it because the ice wasn't thick enough for that.

Also, it is June and the above ground Springs at the back of Castle Lake that feed it from surface spring water have both stopped running (even though the one to the west of the back end of the lake still shows some moisture on the rocks but it isn't flowing visibly anymore.

So, we are witnessing likely a complete change in climate here (at least the last few years). But, if they continue enough years the entire ecology will change and might already be changing as a result.

However, today there were thousands of blue and some grey dragonflies (the smaller variety) mating and carrying on all over the lake especially by the castle rocks to the south end of the lake where people don't go as much except in kayaks or for long distance swimmers.

There were also Mountain Azaleas (wild ones) blooming which smell wonderful. So, the smaller blue or grey dragonflies mating were also landing on the Azaleas too. Also, the Tiger Lilies are starting to bloom along the back edge of the lake too which was really great to see.

So, springtime is in full bloom right now on Castle Lake if you know just where to look.