Low water

We're not California... at least, not yet. But the new US Drought Monitor report that came out today showed that we'd made a transition from yellow—the designation for "abnormally dry"—to tan, which stands for "moderate drought." No one could be surprised. We haven't had an real rain since the beginning of August, and though there's a downpour in the forecast, it hasn't arrived yet, and I no longer believe it will. In concert with dry reality, there's almost no water coming over the millpond falls, and I can't help but wonder if we'll see any return to cataract status in the foreseeable future. About the only thing low water is good for is exploring: I can now zero in on formerly aquatic terrain. Maybe I can get a handle on the mosses and liverworts of the once-covered waterfall rocks.