Divided into watersheds on a flat map, Mount Shasta and vicinity looks like a neatly sliced pie in the midst of jigsaw puzzle. It's a unique place. And, if you like learning about landscapes through their people and notable personalities, you will enjoy a new book titled "Mount Shasta...Where Heaven and Earth Meet." This beautiful, large format, glossy paperback book of writings and photographs is edited by Jane English and Jenny Coyle, published by Earth Heart (1995) , and priced at $19.95.

This book is a unique approach to place. It explores Mount Shasta's natural and human history though a series of short pieces on 43 individuals closely associated with the towering 14,162 foot peak; what the authors refer to as the mountain's "human mosaic." Woven through the book, Shasta's breathtaking landscape looms large through the works of 25 photographers. This book gives one an immediate sense of place and affords an intimate look at the landscape and its community.

I would like to see more books like "Mount Shasta ...Where Heaven Meets Earth" exploring the human mosaics of other special landscapes. When fresh, such books provide us with an intimate introduction to special places. Later, books like these provide us with an historical orientation-a memoir of place. If you enjoy your human and natural history blended, you will enjoy this book.

Speaking of history...watery memories, lessons and the lasting effects of the February 1996 Pacific Northwest flood will be covered in a conference held on October 7 and 8, 1996 in Portland, Oregon. Big floods are some of the most vivid memories people have of any place, but it is important to record, analyze and discuss such events before the passage of time distorts memories. This conference titled "The Flood of '96...Causes, Effects, and Consequences" will promote that effort. The conference is sponsored by the Oregon Water Resources Institute, Oregon Chapter American Institute of Hydrology, and Washington Chapter AWRA. Topics include: 1) Watershed hydrology/meteorology/habitat impacts, 2) Urban hydrology/water supply impacts, and 3) Governmental flood policy/emergency management. For more information phone 541-737-4022 or write the Oregon Water Resources Institute, Oregon State University, 210 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-2208. WMC's own Ivars Steinblums is helping to organize this conference.

WMC's own Earle Cummings of the California Department of Water Resources continues to pursue innovative ways use synergy to solve multiple problems that are difficult to solve separately. Formerly, Earle lead DWR's Urban Streams Restoration Program. This program provides grants and expertise to communities eager to restore their streams' aesthetics, ecology, recreational appeal, and flood flow capacities. Under Earle's leadership the program has produced many notable successes.

Now Earle heads the SB-1669 Drainage Relief Program in California. Imagine reducing toxic and saline agricultural runoff, while at the same time increasing available water supplies. This pilot program attempts to do just that by authorizing DWR to buy interests in problem agricultural lands from willing sellers. The interests bought will give DWR the right to reduce or discontinue irrigation in areas with toxic or saline drainage. Some or all the water formerly supplied to the land can be made available to other areas or to replace water used for other purposes, including habitat restoration. Money generated by the sale of this water can be used to buy interests in additional problem lands, making the program potentially self-supporting after the initial funding. Even more exciting, DWR may use lands to experiment with habitat restoration techniques. Post-purchase management may be dry farm or upland habitat. Post retirement management plans will be disclosed as part of the offer to purchase. DWR must consider the economic impact on local communities.

The program is quite flexible, allowing acquisition by DWR or locals, using grants, loans, contracts or agreements. Plus, DWR may make short or long leases, or take title to less than fee simple ownership. Despite this flexibility, the program includes many safeguards. For example, agreements to distribute conserved water must maximize the environmental benefit it produces. Also, after the pilot, an EIR/EIS will be required before going to a full-scale program. Offers to purchase from willing sellers will be made based on multiple variables, including price, the suitability of the land for program purposes, the utility and amount of water that will be made available, and the degree to which the parcel would contribute to the objectives of other agencies. For more information contact Earle Cummings by phone at (916) 327-1656, via email at earlec@water.ca.gov, or by mail at DWR's San Joaquin Valley Drainage Relief/Land Retirement Program, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001.

Ben Smith, retired USDA-Forest Service soil scientist turned consultant, has recently completed his multi-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as facilitator for the Mokelumne River Watershed Mixed Ownership Protocol Group. The objective of the group, which includes representatives from private, county, state and federal interests, is to resolve conflict and improve the management of the Mokelumne River watershed. This Sierra Nevada watershed produces timber, recreational opportunities, and hydropower. It contains some fast growing small towns, many thousand of acres of wilderness, and some important wildlife habitat. The Mokelumne watershed is also a primary source of domestic water for the distant, urbanized, East (San Francisco) Bay area. Ben is writing a closing report, which I'm looking forward to reading. In the near term, Ben has said he will continue to serve as coordinator until someone else takes over. Thanks, Ben.

Bruce McCammon, USDA Forest Service Regional Hydrologist for the Pacific Northwest writes that Robert (Tim) Sullivan is leaving the Deerlodge National Forest in Montana to head up the Klamath Basin Adjudication team headquartered in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The Klamath is a river that Oregon and California share. Most of the watershed's irrigated agricultural use is upstream in Oregon. Most of the deep, steep canyons are downstream in California. The Klamath is sometimes regarded as a "backwards" water quality scenario: Most rivers have relatively pristine upper reaches and water quality drops downstream. On the Klamath, there's lots of nutrient pollution in the upper end, and the water quality improves downstream. Tim is taking on a real challenge. Best wishes for a successful adjudication, Tim.

Alaska is nothing if not a challenging landscape. Recently retired USDA-Forest Service Regional Hydrologist, Mike Kuehn, loved that challenge and executed it expertly, as mentioned in the last issue of the WMC Networker. However, when asked, Terry Brock, Alaska Regional Soil Scientist, told me that there are no current plans to fill Mike's vacated position. Mike's duties have been split between Terry and Max Copenhagen, Regional Watershed Group Leader. There has been talk of adding a geomorphologist, but that's not likely to happen soon. Terry reports, somewhat tongue in cheek, "We are becoming hydrologically challenged with increasing speed." Terry has picked up all the wetlands ground water work, which is the most fun anyway since about 30% of the Tongass National Forest is wetlands (a.k.a. Tongass National Wetland). Terry writes, "We've got them all up here. We've got your bogs, swamps, fens, marshes, high and low moors, even have some riparian and floodplains. Even Engineers are talking about wetland function, biological significance and scarcity. That took a while, but 404 permits are becoming common place. Delineation is now in our vocabulary and (code) 33CFR323.4 is in everyone's back pocket next to the rite-n-the rain books and bug dope. Great place Alaska. Come up sometime; will show you the wet side of the FS; 120 inches of rain does leave its mark behind. Interesting enough erosion is scarce, and the hills seem to process all that water very efficiently. Wetlands sure help, though. Shallow ground water is not a scarce commodity."

Down in the lower 48 on the banks of the Potomac, USDA Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas announced June 25, 1996 that Art Bryant has been promoted to Director of the Watershed and Air Management Staff in the Washington Office. Bryant has been the acting director since March 1994. As director, Bryant will oversee the coordination of watershed, air, and management soil activities throughout the Forest Service. "Art Bryant brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with watershed, soil and air activities in the Forest Service. His experience and leadership abilities will be a valuable asset to our watershed and air management program," Thomas said.

Bryant began his professional career with the Forest Service in 1975 as a Soil Scientist on the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana and has held positions in North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. He held District Ranger positions in Alabama and Georgia before coming to the Washington Office. Since coming to the WO he served on the Recreation, Land Management Planning, and Watershed and Air Staffs. He also served as the first Forest Supervisor for the Wayne National Forest in Ohio. Art was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of Watershed and Air Management in March of 1994 and became the Acting Director for the Staff in August of 1994. Bryant, a native of Shreveport, LA, received a B.S. degree in Agronomy from Southern University and a MPA in Public Administration from Auburn University. Art is an active member of the Society of American Foresters and has served on a number of committees and task groups for the SAF. Art is married to Sheila and has two daughters, Rachel, 15, and Bathsheba, 10.

And remember, if you've reached a watershed in your career or have an interesting tidbit of watershed news, let your colleagues know about it. Drop a line to Name Stream & Tributaries, c/o Clay Brandow, 1528 Brown Drive, Davis, CA 95616, or call me at (916) 227-2663. DG address is C.Brandow:R05K. Internet email finds me at: clay_brandow@fire.ca.gov