In California, on the San Joaquim Valley's west side near Los Banos, something strange is happening this summer in the San Joaquin River -- water.

The river has continued to flow to the Pacific Ocean throughout the first summer after an ambitious restoration effort began, sending a powerful signal about the project's potential for success.

This end of the river has been dry in summer since Friant Dam was finished in the late 1940s.

By the end of 2012, officials are supposed to re-establish salmon runs, which perished after the dam was built. But officials need to learn a lot more about the river, 60 miles of which has not been wet year-round in decades.

Read the complete story at fresnobee.com