50 Million Gallons Of Water Lost In Attack On Inflatable Dam, Worsening Drought Emergency For Alameda County « CBS San Francisco Sounds like a bunch of Vandal Savages got too carried away.
Jesus, people are stupid. "Hey, we're running really low on water, so we obviously want to drain a dam full of the stuff!" I know it's far more complicated than that, but considering that whatever organization that did this (presumebly some sort of home-grown gang) is more than likely going to be staying in California, they just screwed themselves over with running very low on water.
You know. As more time goes on and with the global warming and water shortage, I'm really starting to worry that those movies were written by someone with prophetic powers.
Considering how much we(California) export in Almonds to China + the amount of water it takes to FARM almonds here, we might as well be exporting our water by the gallons. The biggest NON-natural issue with this drought is that we have farms that have crops which require massive amounts of water. This isn't the right place for them to grow, but the people who own the farms get a TON of cash from what they produce + benefit from 100 year old water rights. Meanwhile, Jerry Brown wants to spend MILLIONS of our tax dollars on a railway system no one wants, while telling citizens (who only account for about 20% of statewide water use) to stop watering lawns and take showers together to conserve....what, 2%? Yeah, a few derps on a rampage are NOTHING compared to the idiots who run this state. I know I didn't vote for the ones in power, so at least my conscience is clean...
What about wine production? Don't some higher end wines take up to 30 gallons of water to produce 1 bottle.
Q&A: California Farmers With Oldest Water Rights Face Cuts I honestly believe that the only reason this became an issue for the farmers is because some local radio hosts (who delve into all the mismanagement and waste that goes on in this state) kept repeating how much water the farmers blow on crops that shouldn't be grown here, and their archaic water rights which have been used as a means of protection against water restrictions.
TBH, I don't know. I can tell you that as much as I love wine, I need water 100 times more. I'd gladly give up my vice to keep Mein Governor out of my bathroom while he times my showers.
well I best get to inventing a still suit. Shai-Hulud! also its past high time to force the farmers in California to use much more efficient methods of irrigation.
Dude people were farming in California long before it became the La La land it is now. Honestly this is what happens when you have an unsustainable population of people moving to the desert with little rainfall and it has nothing to do with global warming. I knew that when I was 6. California being out of water isn't a new problem; it's an old problem almost as old as the state itself. When Native Indian Tribes had to use irrigation as a way of watering crops. Like I said as long as California has been a Republic she's had water problems. I had to crack open some of my books, the first real round of Water Wars began when the City of LA began tapping into water reservoirs in the Owens area I think back around the turn of the century then set their sights on the Mono lake in the 40s because Mulholland and Eaton were trying to secure more water for the city going as far using Eaton ' s friendship with a guy from the US Reclamation service. Originally the federal government wanted the water to stay in Owens but the LA aquaduct was built instead. (And the LA aquaduct is is a tragedy along with the entire dike system in CA waiting in the wings). This was pretty much the short short short version without the dynamite and not mentioning Mulholland ' s spectacular fall from from grace after St Francis from which he pretty much never recovered. Now if I recall correctly (and i didnt )Mulholland ( this is where i spot checked) built the Santa Francis Dam in Santa Clarita in the 20's. (I always call it Santa Clarita dam) Due to unforeseen circumstances at the time the dam suffered catastrophic failure. The location chosen, the stone itself could not support the water pressure behind it, i think it was too porus sometging builders wouldnt have known then. You can follow the dams flood path all the way to the Pacific from Santa Clarita. Awful stuff. I've lived in that state over 10 years as a kid and I'll admit if I had the chance to go back I would, it's just that beautiful. I miss the dessert.
Seriously talking water and the municipalities of San Diego, LA, San Francisco, her environs, and Sacremento it's easier to talk about the Cold War between the US and Russia, it's just that ugly.
I was very specific about the type of crop being farmed which effects the AMOUNT of water used: Alfalfa takes up 1,702 Billion gallons per year. Almonds and Pistachios take up 1,245 Billion gallons per year. These crops are are NOT suitable for farming here UNLESS large amounts of water are used. Big difference in farming things that grow with less effort because they are suitable for this region and climate, as opposed to having to make the resources available in order to allow them create a sustainable, long-term crop. Alfalfa accounts for about 930,000 acres. Almonds account for about 850,000 acres. Again, the population accounts for about 20% of the total water used statewide... ----- And MetalicGrunt, here's your answer to the grape query: Grapes take up 515 Billion gallons per year.
