Usually Seattle has cloudy skies and constant drizzle
between mid October and late June and, to be honest, I was not looking forward
to leaving Southern California for this weather. This winter, however, has been
so mild. We’ve had as few as none and no more than four rainy days a week, which
in comparison to just last year is nothing. The sun is shining now and it
reached nearly 70 degrees just a couple of days ago. We're supposed to be smack dab in the middle of our very long rainy season!
Clearly, the climate is changing. Not only are we Seattleites not getting a
whole lot of rain or snowfall, but Californians have also received so little
that there is approximately
one year of water left. ONE year. That’s it.
A NASA water scientist calculated that all reservoir water,
groundwater and backup supply water for the state of California will only last
through the next year. Last winter, there
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| Photo Source: dpw.lacounty.gov |
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough urgency surrounding
this issue. There have been a few local water restriction efforts set up
throughout the state, but the golf courses in Palm Springs continue to be lush
and green and not enough Los Angeles residents are participating in the Cash for
Grass Rebate Program to alter their lawns. There
hasn’t been a huge drive to create or enforce a statewide water conservation
campaign.
To top it off, NASA
predicts “megadroughts” to take over the Southwest and Great Plains
starting sometime during the second half of this century. Each megadrought can
last between 10 years and a few decades. So if you notice that our current
water crisis is making it harder for Californians to live, farm, raise
cattle, etc., just wait. This year, areas all over the state have had increased problems with water theft, farmers in the San Joaquin Valley are fallowing an increased number of plots and reservoirs are at record lows. I hate being a Debbie Downer, but this is our future.
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| Photo Source: wakefieldbiochar.com |
Most Californians, instead of creating a strategy to deal with
this situation, just stare at the sky, hoping for a few drops of rain. Hoping
won’t cut it at this point. The public needs to be involved in and prepared to substantially
reduce water consumption and dependency, even more so than they have. Laws need to be implemented that will
combat these issues with groundwater sustainability plans, enforced water use
limitations and efficient technology
innovations. Think we can do it? I do. But we need to act. The longer we wait, the less likely change and improvements will not only happen but be effective.
Update: Governor Brown and California lawmakers develop strategies for drought mitigation. And as of April 1st, water restrictions have been imposed, calling for 25% reduction on California's supply agencies. That's what I call progress!
Update: Governor Brown and California lawmakers develop strategies for drought mitigation. And as of April 1st, water restrictions have been imposed, calling for 25% reduction on California's supply agencies. That's what I call progress!
