Tropical Hawaii vs. Arid Carlsbad

Hawaii's unique topography coupled with the abundance of oceanic influence makes for spectacular landscapes. Honolulu has an average day time temperature in the high 70's nearly year round. The north and east sides of the islands receive most of the rain due to the moist ocean winds carried to the base of the coastal mountains where precipitation occurs. These winds now devoid of moisture, move across to the dry western side of the islands. As a result, there are huge rainfall differences in Hawaii's regoinal locations.

Carlsbad is coastal city with an average day time temp of 78. Its location gives it a temperate Mediterranean climate. It only has an average of 11.13 inches of rain each year s it is much more arid than Hawaii.

http://majorchangeacademy.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/hawaii.jpg

The Northern Pacific Coast -Totem Poles & Animals

The native Americans of the Pacific Northwest used totem poles as a means of recording kinship history. The Luiseno Indians of Southern California used totem in another sense. During the Luiseno ritual called the Toloache, adolescent boys that are coming of age use totem animals as spiritual guides to help their journey to adulthood. The hallucinogenic root of the jimsonweed is also incorporated in the ceremony. The Luiseno Indian tribe numbered in the thousands in the Northern San Diego area in the 1870's.

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/shoshoni/luisenoindianhist.htm

http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/exhibits/tbird-park/index.html

California Mission Systems

Much has been said about the Spanish Colonial Mission system in California. Carlsbad is located in the middle of two of the most significant missions. Many of the state's fourth graders still prepare reports and models on and about these missions. Some question the accuracy of our California history in regards to the motivation and administration of these working ranches that were, at one time, throughout the state. Many say that the European presence in California was Spain's long, intrusive arm just moving up the Pacific coast from Baja Mexico to the Alta (Upper) regions of what we now call California.

The first mission in Baja was San Bruno, founded by the Spanish Jesuits in 1683, near the gulf town of Loreto. Over time, the Jesuits built a system of fifteen missions in Baja. After King Charles III heard that the Jesuits had been stockpiling wealth they were replaced by the Franciscans headed by Junipero Serra. The San Diego area was the site of two notable missions in this chain. First, in 1769, Mission San Diego became the start of the Alta California mission system that would stretch 650 miles to the north. Years later Mission San Luis Rey was founded in 1798 by Father Fermin Lausen. This mission would be called the "King of the Missions" due the fact that it was the named after King Louis IX and it was the largest of the missions with a population of 2,700. It also had the most livestock with 50,000 head of cattle and 2,000 horses among others. Mission San Luis had an extensive agricultural operations. Good, bad or indifferent, the California Missions are a formative element of our state's history. The story of these missions and our state history are forever inextricably linked. Carlsbad was right there in the middle!

http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/photos1/l/bl_caslrm_int.htm

Carlsbad - The Southwest Border

As noted in previous posts the diversity in the demographics of Carlsbad is quite limited. It is over 80% Caucasian with less than 1% American Indian and less than 12% Hispanic. This is quite a feat considering the history of California with it being a part of Mexico and coupled with the huge influx of immigration from south of the border into the region. Moreover, San Diego County also has a greater number of native American Indian tribes than any other county in the United States. There are 18 reservations and 20,000 American Indians residing in San Diego County. There a re four tribal groupings in these 18 smaller reservations, the Kumeyaay/Diegueño, the Luiseño, the Cupeño, and the Cahuilla. Still Carlsbad remains a privileged community despite its location.

http://www.sandiego.edu/nativeamerican/reservations.html

The Empty Interior includes the Salton Sea

Carlsbad is not part of the "The Empty Interior" of the United States. However, just a few hours directly to the east is the Salton Sea which is part of this expansive, sparsely populated region. The history of the inland salt water body is marked by extreme change. Located in the area called the Salton Sink, which is 230 feet below sea level, the Salton Sea has appeared and disappeared several times over the last three million years. Depending on the changing flow of the Colorado River north into the Sink, then back to the south again, the lake was created accidentally recently. In the late 1800's farming in the area was supported by irrigation canals pulled from the Colorado River. In 1905, during higher than normal flows, the Colorado River overtook the canals and filled the Salton Sink area forming the largest lake in California. As a result, the Salton Sea has become a vital habitat for 400 species of birds. It is also home to approximately 10 million talapia fish. Unfortunately, the salt level is increasing 1% every year and consequently major devastating ecological events are occurring in the area. If this trend continues unchecked, much of the wildlife in this area is at risk. In recent years, plans are being discussed about how to offset these changes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKsK13NDkpg

All of Carlsbad's Water is Imported

Nearly all of Carlsbad's water is imported. It comes from two costly sources, one in Northern California, the Bay Delta and the other from the Colorado River. Both of these sources are overburdened and highly susceptible to drought conditions. As a response to this ongoing problem, the City of Carlsbad has decided to invest in a desalination project. This process not only removes the salts from the Pacific Ocean water that will be used but also removes all the minerals and organic material. The end product will be completely potable water suitable for drinking. This project is currently in production and will be operational in 2012.