On this languid New Year's Eve week, here's some interesting, nerdy ecological stuff for you to gnaw on: an interactive timeline / crash course on everything you need to know about the California Delta.

Water in California has always been a controversial topic. The Delta, for those of you who don't know, is where a bunch of rivers turn into the San Francisco Bay. It's basically ground zero of the battle between farmers and conservationists. Why? Well, the fish are disappearing, the water's polluted, and there's a criss-crossing of electrical, communications, and fuel lines that could disintegrate in an earthquake.

Lean more below.