water woes

Produce in California may see a price increase related to water issues in the state, according to the Associate Press.  In fact, farmer’s in Central California are abandoning their fields, leaving them to turn to dust, because of the plight caused by water shortages.

The most interesting finding in the report is that the limits in produce will not all be caused by the drought, but subsequent legislation that was put in place in anticipation of the drought.  Most prominently, the decision that ordered state water managers to expedite requests to move water so high-value crops like wine grapes, almonds and pistachio trees would stand a chance of surviving.

Federal water reserves are at their lowest since 1992, and unless California gets more rain, reserves will get slashed to nothing.

Obviously, in an already suffering economy, this is not good news.  It means that Californians will have to spend more money to get healthful food and their will be less jobs up and down the coast and central valley.

drought, round 3

California is expected to have its third consecutive year of drought in 2009. And when it happens, authorities will be forced to impose water rationing on farmers, homes, and businesses.

A portion of water that California uses is stored in the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Current indications are that it is at higher levels than this time last year, but well below the normal average. The deficit could be made up during the “rainy” season from January-March. However, this week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that La Nina has returned for a second year.

This year, under La Nina conditions, the reason season ended in February. In normal weather patterns, the rain ends in April. The loss of two months of rain, depletes our reserves. In 2008, runoff from the Sierras was down 57% from normal flows.

The demand for water is perpetually high in this fast-growing state, which is expected to add half a million people annually for the next decade. Its $30-billion-a-year agricultural industry produces more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Among those clamoring for supplies of fresh water are wildlife biologists. Endangered species like the delta smelt have been disappearing from rivers whose flows are well below average. A year ago, a federal judge ordered water authorities to curtail the use of large pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta water system to help preserve the smelt.

You can help the situation by conserving your usage; shorter showers, watering landscape during non-peak hours, and washing full loads of laundry are some suggestions.

Water is a resource that we take for granted. We assume that when we turn on the faucet, and we have paid our bills, that water will be there. In the coming months, that may not be the case. Which is why it is so important to conserve now, and more importantly, make sure others start conserving. This is one case when your actions will directly affect what will happen in your household and your neighbor’s households, Just something to think about.

Interestingly, the article came from the New York Times, HERE.

water rationing predicted for Cali

California Department of Water Resources announced that water rationing is our likely future, unless we get some heavy rain and lasting snowfall this winter. And, at this point, that is not predicted. What is expected drought and increasing temperatures.

Things can change rapidly but for now there is a call for extra effort in conservation and to keep it as a habit.

I have posted this before, but in LA, it is illegal to:
• Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways
or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety;
• Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is
part of a recirculating system;
• Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested;
• Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired;
• Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing,
shut-off device;
• Permit watering during periods of rain;
• Irrigate landscaping between the hours of
9 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
• Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for
other irrigation systems;
• Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering;