California's Water Crisis. Why?

[F8L]

As most California residents know, our government has declared a state of drought and every agency I am aware of is talking about the water crisis and legislation regarding water conservation, water rights, and the future of agriculture, ecosystems, and urban usage.

California is characterized by it's medditerainean climate which means mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Over 40% of California's available water comes in the form of snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of this water drains through the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River systems (I am omitting the Klamath for a reason), or at least would have except for the man dams and diversion systems put in place for flood control, urban use, and agriculture irrigation. That which does make it into the Delta is further diverted for human uses which creates major disruptions in local and distant ecosystems.

So what is my point you may be asking. My point is why do we cause so much harm to these ecosystems and why is there so much fighting between farmers/ranchers (Farm Bureau, CA. Cattlemans Ass.) and environmental groups (NRDC, Sierra Club, CA. Dept. Fish & Game) to resolve these issues when much of the problem stems from mismanagement and overuse of water by citizens for personal uses or poor city planning?

Why are we not looking into legislation that makes lawns illegal? What about tiered structures for water useage at the household level and making it pricey enough that people stop wasting water? Same can be done for city usage as well. Far too often I see roadside landscaping that is inappropriate for the local climate and the sprinklers run every day and leak/overspray a large amount of water onto the roadside and gutter. That is pure waste and for what benefit?

If we are at a point where we have to choose between our crops and ecosystem health then we have a major problem and we need to address urban uses and IMO place restrictions on use for non-critical activities. We should not have to choose between food and ecosystem health just because Joe Schmo wants to pretend he lives in Scotland, instead of LA, and have green grass all year round or because city planners think Redwoods look good in a desert community.

A new bill proposal might do just that but I need to read up on it more: Assembly Bill 2175

Info from NRDC: Legislative Leaders Endorse Landmark Water Conservation Bill and Strategic Water Investments in California

Sorry for the rant but this stuff burns me up. Reading my environmental news and AgAlert publications just gets me thinking about stuff that really matters.

[F8L]

On a side note, I left out the study on emissions and their effect on precipitation rates in the Sierra Nevada or the possibly effects of climate change as both of these studies, while VERY important, are still being studied. Planning Depts. and both governmental and Non-Govermental agencies take these factors into consideration and are very concerned about the future of California's water supplies in light of these effects.

[richard schumacher]

Build combination nuclear power/desalination plants and everyone can have all the water and electricity they want at tolerable prices (roughly $0.15 per kiloWatt-hour and $0.01 per gallon). But I expect it will take a real water crisis or two (something on the order of the failure of central valley agriculture and bathroom water rationing, much more than the present annoyance) and about ten years before people realize this.

[Codyroo]

Try this one on for size.

In Fresno, the water company doesn't require meters on houses. They pay a flat fee and can use all the water they want....in what amounts to a freakin' desert, there is no financial penalty for overusing water.

Someone explain to me how that makes sense.....

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Codyroo

Try this one on for size.

In Fresno, the water company doesn't require meters on houses. They pay a flat fee and can use all the water they want....

For real? OMG . . . .

[RobH]

I'm just waiting for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to reveal their plans to use Columbia River water. After all, Portland is just a suburb of LA. The existing water distribution system is 2/3 of the way there. Another 300 miles is no problem.

[Godiva]

We have tiered water meter rates.

Our (Republican) Mayor has blocked any legislation regarding recycling of water, labeling it "Toilet to Tap" to make sure it conjures up a really disgusting image in the voter's minds.

The City isn't quite Bankrupt but is more focused on the fiscal mismanagement regarding the city pension and our lousy credit rating due to long overdue audits.

Thus no investment in infrastructure or the building of desalinization plants, etc.

What would you have us do? Close the doors and allow no one else to move to San Diego and take up permanent residence? Would you like to deport Southern Californians already in residence to other states that have more water? What would be your criteria?

While legislation such as you propose makes sense, those making the decisions aren't going to suggest it let along pass it.

One of our past mayors had TWO water meters installed on her property. One for her house and one for her yard. That way she could pay LESS according to our tiered water rates. She claimed her garden was used for community and political social functions. Funny, but *I've* never been invited to her garden.

I don't have a lawn. I've got drippers on timers. I've reduced my water bill pretty much as far as it's going to go. I'm not giving up my fruit trees or my vegetable garden. I eat that stuff.

Locally there has been plenty of support for low flow toilets and showerheads. There have been giveaways and rebates so that most residential homes and businesses have installed conservation measures. I'm putting in a dishwasher to cut down on my water use washing dishes.

I see a lot of waste by Commercial businesses and yes, landscaping by the Department of Transportation.

So if you want to target anyone, I suggest you put residents a lot farther down on your list.

Perhaps those areas of California that don't have water meters and don't pay for water should install some and start paying.

I suspect the farmers and ranchers that are fighting over the water probably aren't paying their fair share when compared to the residents. I also suspect they could institute some conservation of water use of their own.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by Codyroo

In Fresno, the water company doesn't require meters on houses. They pay a flat fee and can use all the water they want....in what amounts to a freakin' desert, there is no financial penalty for overusing water.

That's insane. It sounds like some developer has the water utility in their pocket.

[F8L]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

Build combination nuclear power/desalination plants and everyone can have all the water and electricity they want at tolerable prices (roughly $0.15 per kiloWatt-hour and $0.01 per gallon). But I expect it will take a real water crisis or two (something on the order of the failure of central valley agriculture and bathroom water rationing, much more than the present annoyance) and about ten years before people realize this.

Richard, if nuclear power did not require the use of a rare earth resources (that play havok with national security), cost so damned much to build and maintain, and they produced zero waste then it could be an alternative. Infortunately there are too many pitfalls with nuclear to even consider it as a method of allowing unlimited use of energy and water.

Cody, you are kidding right? Some other counties/cities work similarly as the rate for water is so low it might as well be free. Same goes for agricultural uses where users are allocated a particular amount of acre/feet per year and if they don't use all of the water they simply dump it for if they don't they will not be allocated the same amount of water the next year (not all transactions are managed this way).

[qbee42]

I'm loading my shotgun. You guys stay away from the Great Lakes.

Tom