♪ >> tonight on kqed newsroom, the winter snowpack is melting into streams and rivers that are now threatening to flood communities. we will discuss the big melt and what it means for california. plus, a 500 mile bike ride rings support and joy in the fight against hiv and aids. and we will soar across mt. diablo in the east bay in

tonight's look at something beautiful, coming to you from kqed headquarters in san francisco, friday, april 28th, 2023. hello, and weome to the show. i am priya david clemens. this winter saw waves of atmospheric rivers unleash narly unprecedented levels of rain on california. and while the storms left a multibillion-dollar trail of damage in their wake, they also finally brought about the end of a years long drought that had clipped the golden ste. now as we head toward the summer, the water from the same winter storms is gearing up for its next act, the big melt. joining me now to discuss in the studio, our editor and reporter, and newsroom meteorologist, jeffrey diaz. thank you for being with us. >> thank you. >> we had an extremely wet and rainy winter. now we had a beautiful week of warm weather. but that has exacerbated the big melt. so jerry, kick us off. tell us about warmer weather and what we should expect in the weeks ahead. >> unfortunately, the week , the

heat wave we have experienced, it has already exacerbated the snowmelt. we are seeing daytime temperatures melting away, chipping away at pockets of the sierra. at night, those temperatures also stay above 32 degrees fahrenheit. as a result we have snowmelt happening during the day and at night. it's the combination of the factors that are ramping up the snowmelt and leading to flooding downstream of the sierra nevada. >> we have cold weather coming. will that slow down the melt to a trickle? >> it will help in the short term. the weather will stabilize parts of the sierra. unfortunately, the snowmelt has already begun to turn to a slushy element. so the fact we are getting the colder air moving in, the top layer of the snowpack will be fine. the lower layer that has alreadstarted melting away, that could create issues where we could see localized flooding even after the big warmup we are expecting this weekend. >> and dan, where are we

looking in the state at areas facing the most trouble from all this extra water? >> it is generally the lower half of the central valley. the san joaquin valley to the basin, and where the kern river comes down from the mountains into the bakersfield area. that whole area is facing some degree of flood concern. number one place people have been looking at is this basin which, i think, if anybody has been paying attention to the weather or the california water, you have heard of to erie lake. this is an ancient lake that we drained in the late 19th and early centuries. there is nowhere for the water coming down from the mountains to go. i mean, there are some reservoirs. they are not big enough to contain the flood that will be coming down from the mountains based on the factors that jerry was mentioning. so the water is gathering. it is in thlake basin around the town of corcoran and

neighboring communities. >> and you went there recent to see the lake that has reappeared. you saw it with your own eyes. what was it like? >> well, you know, this is an historic event. right? this hasn't happened for 40 years. there has been so much water coming out of the mountains that the lake sort of reestablished itself in its former footprint or in this case small part of a former footprint. so, literally -- maybe it wouldn't be too surprising to people, but you might be driving down a country road and see off in the distance -- is that a mirage or is that water? you will hit an expansive open water that goes as far as you can see. there was one point when we looked across, you could see the coast range on the other side of the valley there.

you could see those mountains. it looked like the water was going to the foot of the mountains. it wasn't -- >> but it is 100+ miles. >> it's 100 square miles at least and likely to grow. >> what are the issues you are seeing there in the farming communities? >> the biggest degree of concern has been expressed for the town of corcoran, it's about a townof 25,000 in kings county. it has been long known as the capital of farming in the state. the former lakebed is very rich farmland. there is a company called the jg boswell company that is world-famous as a cotton grower. they have moved into some other crops now. there is still a forest down there. you know? there are many firms being inundated. and there are a couple state prisons down there with thousands of inmates. so there is a big effort right now to try to shore up this 15 mile long levy that protects the town because this water continues to come up. it will be there for a long time. there are real concerns there

could be some failure that could lead to flooding of the town. >> there is an issue with high- speed rail -- >> it's the darndest thing. you drive through the san joaquin valley and you encounter places where there are significant pieces of infrastructure, say in fresno, there are via ducts that have already been built for the future train line. right outside of corcoran as you head out of town, there's a place on highway 43 if anyone will go down to see it, there is a place where this viaduct is built across the river. so, yes. our past, present and future are all implicated in this thing. >> jerry, there are some people who would like to see the lake become permanent. there was a quote this week from the cultural director and tribal historic preservation officer for the santa rosa

she said, imagine if you are a christian and the garden of eden reappeared. how exciting would that be? it's the same thing for the tribe. the lake created the tribe. it made them who they are. that was in the san francisco chronicle. there is a desire for some who say this lake was part of our history for thousands of years. and we want it to stick around and be the source of life but it was for so long. is there any possibility of the lake becoming permanent? >> fr a climate perspective, it goes to show how long the lake existed before european settlers arrived. it wasn't until the 1850s we started to see the drainage at the speed we saw it. so going into the end of the 20th century and into the early part of the 21st century, it almost feels like we have not discussed how much this lake has had an impact on the history of california especially for indigenous for the first time as damaged k

in 40 years, it makes you wonder, does the lake belong? should we allow it to flow in its natural state? a lot of rivers, creeks and streams naturally flow down to the basin. so the question is, you know, will we see the lake come back as we see more of these extremes? it goes back to the conversation about the weather whiplash, very dry conditions followed by one very wet winter. with climate extremes, we will likely see the lake come back in waves. should we keep it there permanently? that is a question for residents in the area. it will be a challenge for the for the local agcultural producers that are there. >> this is a source of freshwater which has been an issue in the state. tell us what we are expecting for the year and years ahead as we are facing these weather whiplash is and extremes. >> right. we are entering an el nino year

in estate we have not seen for quite some time. this will be a strong event sometimes referred to as a super el nino. it is still up for debate. >> what does that mean? >> superboy? >> superboy, right? picture el nino conditions, warm waters off the eastern pacific. then cold waters in the western pacific. we will see it really amplify the scenario. we would see warm air move into california which would lead to warm, moist air rolling in. will that impact our winter? that is still to be determined. we are witnessing other factors. we have to remember it is 2023 and we are dealing with other climate change factors that make the certainty of el nino less than certain for us. so whether or not this will crte more of those wet patterns for the winter season is still up for debate. in the short term for the summer months the extra warm air could potentially lead to

heat waves similar to what we just had, some are still experiencing right now. >> what are the benefits of getting this water? the ground will hopefully retain some of it. we know the water in the ground has been depleted over the years. in years past when the rain has come because the ground has been so dry, the water has run off. is it now sinking in? arwe able to hold onto groundwater and sort of restore those depleted sources? >> common sense would tell you that was so much water flooding the ground, there is water working its way into the underground aquifers. that is true. there is an outfit called river partners, a nonprofit, that has a large plain restoration project near the toile ami river where it joins the san joaquin. the floodplain has been inundated for weeks as i understand.

that is specifically to allow floodwater standing on the ground to work its way underground. that takes a while to happen. there is a lot of conversation about how we have to do a lot more of that especially in the san joaquin valley. there has been more progress in the sacramento valley in doing that. but yes. that is something people are looking at carefully. >> to dan's point, we have only seen this for one wet winter over the past few years. even the top layer of soil is saturated. everything else below that, 700 meters below the top layer, we are in a state where the water has not made it there yet. unfortunately, while we did see beneficial rain, it will take time for it to trickle down to the lower layers. >> dan, tell us about the response we are seeing from lawmakers in the state of california. i know there have been some requests for more funding from governor newsom. >> it is very interesting.

you know? right before the storm started rolling in in december, there was something called the central valley flood plan that came out. it is a long-term flood plan. it called for tens of billions of dollars of investment in things like floodplain restoration and preparing communities that might face inundation during more intense future storms. and the respon of the state or of the governor's office especially, because we are facing a serious deficit in the coming year, was to cut funding for floodplain restoration. just this week, a couple days ago, vince vaughn, an assembly member from bakersfield, sent a letter with a bipartisan group of legislators asking the governor to restore the million in floodplain restoration and add $100 million for emergency relief because all of these

communities -- and corcoran is the epicenter right now -- but there are smaller ones like the historically black town of allensworth for instance -- they don't have a lot of money to begin with. and their resources are being stretched very thin by this. >> it is hard for the government to do when we are facing economic headwinds against california and the rest of the global economy. here in california, we have a budget deficit. where is the money going to come from? that is a question to keep in mind. dan and jerry, thank you for being with us. >> thank you. the aids lifecycle this june. this year, they will ride from san francisco to santa monica. it is a seven day 545 mile bicycle ride. but the event has always been billed as much more than a ride. here to talk about ongoing efforts to end the global hiv-

aids pandemic, thank you both for joining us. >> thanks for having us. >> tracy, let's start with you. the ride has been going on in some form for 30 years. this year you have 1800 riders sign up, 600 roadies. what is it that brings people out? >> the ride started as an act of activism. that spirit continues today. over the last 29 years has become community. it has become energy. it becomes a place where people get to be themselves the first week of june. it's just -- it is so much joy and magic. it is hard to explain if you haven't been there. to say it is a magical experience that brings people together -- in fact, after all

these years we are so excited that 52% of the people that are signed up are new. we continue to bring new people in because it is a magical week full of fun, love, care, and really full of joy. that's what i'm going to say. >> and some of the funding will go to support san francisco aids foundation. i will call you the name you are known as, the ceo, but you are known as doc t. so tell us about the picture here in california and globally in the fight against hiv/aids. >> more than 40 years into the hiv epidemic in the united states we made progress in our ability to prevent new infections and to care and treat for those living with hiv. although we do have 1.1 million people who are living with hiv in the united states. about 30,000 newly diagnosed individuals each year, and 150,000 individuals across the u.s. that may be living with

hiv each year and unaware of the hiv status. it is important that folks get connected to organizations like san francisco aids foundation on their sexual journey so we can help th live a long life with hiv or prevent hiv in their lifetime. >> in san francisco, there is an initiative to get to 0 new infections. how are we doing on that goal? >> one of the amazing things about our progress in medical advancement is there will be a day when we achieve zero new infections in our country. we truly believe san francisco will be the first across the we have seen a steady decrease in hiv here in the bay area for over a decade. unfortunately, thelast few years of the covid-19 pandemic made medical appointments harder and testing and treatment less available in our communities for the first time in a decade. we did see a small increase in annual new infections in 2021 which is our most recent data

available. that meant there was about 160 new infections here in the area. we have an amazing initiative that is ensuring testing is available, prevention modalities like prep, the pill that can prevent hiv infection are available, and those who need care, treatment or referral to shows services get it as soon as they can. >> do you have a date bywhich you are targeting zero new infections? >> the most recent strategy put out and refreshed by the biden administration has an enof hiv by 2030 if we can meet a series of goals around testing, prevention and connection to care. our goal is to get those living with hiv virally suppressed, so taking their medication every day. in today's world, that means they are no longer able to spread the virus, such a

transforation from 40 years ago when this began. >> tracy, tell us about the ride itself. give us an overview of what participants experience along the way. >> on june 4th, we will roll out. that morning, we will have a beautiful opening ceremony where we honor the people who are not with us and can no longer be with us. we really get everybody's heart and mind connected on the journey they are about to take. we take seven days to get down to l.a. and throughout the whole week her mother are amazing things that happen. one of my favorite days is on day three. we will ride through this tiny rural town called bradley. it is on the way. and the teeny tiny town, years ago, asked -- we uslly have a

lunch stop there. they asked if they could supplement and do a fundraiser. so they started doing hamburger -- you know, grilling hamburgers and selling them. let me tell you about the kids and bradley. they are little entrepreneurs. they have built over the years this fundraiser which is -- the rest stop is at their school -- >> reporter: they are still selling burgers? >> they are. you can buy the regular burger for 8 dollars. or you can buy the $100 burger that allows you to go into the auditorium where the air- conditioning is. it is a very hot day, generally. they have all kinds of things they are doing there. last year, i believe they raised $75,000 at that stop that helped support their extracurricular activities for the school. so the aids lifecycle community loves to give back and loves to be part of -- not just the ride, but all the communities we go through. >> what a great partnership that has emerged from that. >> it is wonderl. >> then you have a red dress day ride? >> day five, we go from santa

maria to lawn polk. we go through the switchbacks. years ago, again, years ago, the idea was for everybody to wear red on that day. and over the years -- to be the aids ribbon. really, it is representative of the aids ribbon. on the perfect day on the perfect moment, you see that with everybody in red. it turned into red dress day. we have people who will wear full on red gowns with drag queens shoes with bike cleats on them. i mean, it is a wild, wild thing to see. it is so amazing. it is just joy. everybody has fun and gets in on the action. e folks who say they won't wear a red dress, next year, they are prepared. so that is a really fun, fun day. and then, maybe the most

heartwarming moment of the whole ride as the collective communy, night six, our night in camp, if you think about summer camp when you say goodbye to your friends, we have a vigil on the beach in ventura. it's a candlelight vigil. it is amazing to e -- you know, 2000 or 3000 people with their candles, really thinking about what this experience has meant, who they are honoring, and what the future could look like. those are highlights for me, warm, wonderful moments. >> you are memorable. you have done this ride many times yourself. what do you remember most from your experiences? >> yeah, aids lifecycle is such a magical experience as tracy said. as a person who has been living with hiv myself for nearly 20 years it is a personal ride not only for the community it brings together, but because of

the very thing we are writing for, to honor those we have lost, to recognize there will be an end to hiv in our lifetime, and this community is helping to raise the critical funds that make the lives of people living with hiv so possible. there are people along the road every day to cheer us along. perhaps my favorite and most impactful memory each year are those we meet along the journey. there is one woman in particular on the first day of the ride that has been standing there since i started the ride in 2008. to my knowledge, for many, many years before that. stephanie stands very solemn with a lawn chair beside her, holding a big banner with a picture of her brother. i stop every year and give her a hug. she is very emotional. she has committed to be there every year from the first person to the last person to honor his memory and support us on our 545 mile ride from san francisco to los angeles. >> for the first time this year

you have a brand-new finish line in a special place. >> we do. you know, we go from san francisco to los angeles. we support the aids foundation and the lgbt center. for years in los angeles, we have been looking for what could be iconic, what could be a wonderful finish to this amazing event. this year, we are ending at the beach in santa monica. in fact, just south of the santa monica pier, weare so excited to have a beach party to celebrate our participants, both cyclists and roadies who finish the finish line, and all the people at the beach celebrating and having a great time. we are really looking forward to it and so excited we were able to make this change. >> how much money are you hoping to raise this year? >> we are hoping to raise $13 million this year which will really go a long way in helping to support the critical services at the san francisco

aids foundation and the los angeles lgbt center to get -- you know, testing, prevention, ca, advocacy, all the things that wrap around and get closer to the day of our mission to end aids. >> there is an opportunity if you want to check it out this weekend. >> this weekend, tomorrow we have a new event, it's a snippet of what it's going to be like. we are rolling out tomorrow morning. we invite people to come and join us. it is 3000 feet, 70 miles. it will be a great day to see what aids lifecycle is all about. >> tracy, with aids lifecycle and dock t with the san francisco aids foundation, thank you for being here and sharing your knowledge with us. >> thank you. coming up next is our

weekly segment, something beautiful. we have a guest host, a highschooler who is a member of kqed's youth advisory board. we have been including young people in our programming as part of our commitment to education and engaging with our community. take it away, mahi. >> hi, i am mahi part of kqed's youth takeover. this features mt. diablo. it is visible from most of the bay area. visitors can opt to picnic or hike through rock city. several indigenous tribes including these, consider it sacred ground. ♪ ♪

♪ >> the hills are alive. thanks, mahi. join us next week when we sit down with the san francisco ballet's new artistic director. we will see you right back here

next week. if you would like to share your comments or questions, you can email us. you can also find the kqed newsroom online. you can reach me on linkedin. thank you for joining us. have a great weekend. ♪

♪ >> tonight on pbs news weekend, why chicago is struggling to house thousands of migrants who cross the southern border. then a look at the lack of research and treatment for menopause. and a new book illustrates the importance of seeing the world through different lenses. >> when we are seeing the world and building our visual record almost exclusively through the lens of male photographers, we are not only missing out on stories those photographers may not have access to, we are teaching the audience those stories don't matter. ♪