California’s waiting season begins

Water is released downstream from the Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River. The dam is a keystone of the federal Central Valley Project, helping to reroute waters from the north to the more arid south.

Pedro Colin, his daughter Brianna and his wife Celina escape the heat of Fresno by cooling off in the waters of Lost Lake on the San Joaquin River near Friant.

A great blue heron looks for a meal at Lost Lake on the San Joaquin River near Friant.

Robin Kezirian, a Central Valley raisin grower, is wrapping up this year’s harvest. Once all the raisins have been dried and gathered, the farmer will soak the vineyards one final time and then call it a year, waiting to see what winter yields.

Field hands bring in the final bins of raisins for the season from the vineyard owned by farmer Robin Kezirian.

A ring marks how high the water used to be in Millerton Lake, behind the Friant Dam.

A marooned ski boat rests on a dry area of Huntington Lake.

Kayaks float along the San Joaquin River.

Tree stumps are exposed where water used to be in Huntington Lake.

A flock of geese take flight at Lost Lake on the San Joaquin River near Friant.

The last rays of sunlight illuminate the tops of the pine trees, while clouds from a passing storm are reflected in the puddles of water at Huntington Lake.

Frost in the meadow is a sure sign that the seasons are changing near Huntington Lake in the San Joaquin watershed.