Dear readers:
As the year draws to a close, I’d like to thank you for being a reader of Maven’s Notebook. I also want to talk a bit about the accomplishments this year, as well as look to the future.
Maven’s Notebook readership continued to grow, reaching an all-time high in August. The detailed and extensive coverage of meetings and hearings shed light on the activities of state agencies, and the many speeches covered let you know what our water leaders were thinking. The innovative BDCP Road Map served up over 10,000 page views during the six month public comment period, providing a way to navigate the enormous documents for those looking to submit comments or simply just look around. Breaking news alerts kept Notebook readers abreast of fast breaking developments, from drought proclamations to snow surveys to the release of the latest report, making sure Notebook readers were always among the first to know.
But perhaps more importantly, Maven’s Notebook is helping to change the dialog on California water. The coverage of meetings, hearings, and seminars, along with breaking news and aggregated features is a unique combination not found elsewhere on the internet. Articles from the Notebook are read by over 800 people a day, linked to by water news aggregators and special interest websites, cited in research journals and blogs, and quoted at numerous presentations and seminars. The diversity of opinion covered on the Notebook is inclusive of the many different viewpoints. The inclusion of science alongside water policy coverage, another unique feature of the blog, recognizes that Delta science and policy need to go hand in hand, and seeks to bridge that science-policy gap. Never before have water wonks as well as the interested public had access to a wealth of unbiased information on water issues – and in real time. I believe this is having a positive impact on the dialog and improving the debate.
And yet there is so much more to be done. The website will be overhauled to a format compatible with the various devices you use. New features and ways to access content will be added. The recirculated BDCP documents will be integrated into the BDCP Road Map. Implementation of the Delta Plan will continue, the State Water Board will be making progress on the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan, and many discussions will be followed to see how they implement the new groundwater legislation. Will the drought continue? Will it be decision time for the BDCP? Stay tuned. There’s so much more to come, and I am determined to keep bringing it to you.
Maven’s Notebook has stayed in operation thanks to the support of the Rose Foundation and reader donations; however after two years of operation, the project has yet to be fully funded. In order to remain in operation, more financial support is needed.
I hope that you will consider making a tax deductible donation to Maven’s Notebook and help keep the project going. With the drought, the BDCP, and other issues converging in 2015, keeping this source of unbiased information flowing to the water community is more important than ever. With your support, together we can continue to have a positive impact on California water issues in 2015.
Lastly, I want to thank you for being a reader of Maven’s Notebook. As I have traveled to the many meetings and seminars, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you, some of whom have been following me for a very long time, and your words of appreciation and encouragement are immensely gratifying to me. All of you showing up here every day are the reason why I show up here every day, too. After all, a blogger blogs to be read, and I feel truly feel blessed to be read by each and every one of you.
With warmest regards,
Maven
