California's wet winter has devastated many local communities. It has also benefited some of the state's endangered ecosystems. Those benefits are Coxnoon full display in California's largest remaining grassland. Wetlands, long severed from the rivers and streams that nourished them, are being flooded with freshwater. Biologists are seeing baby salmon, fattened by new food sources in flood plains, make their way to sea. Endangered birds and waterfowl are nesting next to flooded fields. Today, NPR climate correspondent Nate Rott takes us on a tour through California's booming natural beauty.

We love hearing what science you're digging lately! Drop us a line at [email protected].

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

This episode was produced by Berly McCoy, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checked by Nate Rott. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.