About Maven’s Notebook …
Welcome. Grab a cup of coffee. We have a lot of water to talk about.
I’m Chris Austin, though around these parts, people just call me Maven. Since 2007, I’ve been following the twists, turns, and occasional plot twists of California water. It started as a curiosity. It became a habit. Now it’s a full-time calling, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What I Do
Most weeks, you’ll find me at a state agency meeting, a workshop, a conference, or a seminar, taking notes fast enough to keep pace with the discussion (and slow enough not to spill my coffee). When I’m not in a meeting, I’m reading reports, sorting through the news, and adding fresh coverage to the site. California water rarely slows down, so neither do I.
The goal is simple: help you understand what’s happening with California water without needing a law degree, an engineering background, or a decoder ring.
What You’ll Find Here
Maven’s Notebook is a mix of original reporting, carefully curated coverage from across the web, and republished content from trusted sources including SJV Water, CalMatters, Courthouse News Service, Inside Climate News, the American Geophysical Union, and others. That includes:
- News articles
- Scientific papers
- Editorials
- Press releases
- And a fair amount of my own meeting notes
I cover the big, consequential stuff, including the Delta Conveyance Project, the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, groundwater regulations, and the science of habitat restoration. Some of these topics are complicated. Some are contentious. All of them matter.
Here’s my promise: I tell you what happened and what people said. No spin. No fluff. No agenda. I’ll do my best to explain the technical, legal, and engineering pieces in plain language, then step back and let you draw your own conclusions. This is a one-stop shop for independent, non-partisan California water news, and I intend to keep it that way.
How the Site Keeps Running
Maven’s Notebook runs on two things: reader contributions and sponsorships from organizations that value clear, reliable water coverage. That support keeps this a public resource, open to anyone who wants to follow these issues.
If the site has helped you stay informed, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution or becoming a sponsor. Every bit helps keep the meetings covered, the reports read, and the coffee flowing.
Thanks for Stopping By
You made it all the way to the About page, which tells me you’re my kind of reader. Thank you for being here.
If you find this work useful, there are two easy ways to help: make a donation to keep the coverage coming, or tell a friend who cares about California water. Either one means the world.
Now, let’s get back to the water.
Suggestions, comments, feedback … ?
- I’m happy to hear from you. Email Maven.
