Solutions needed for California’s water crisis

From the Capital Ag Press:

California farmers and ranches are hoping for a white Christmas to soften the blow of what could be one of the bleakest water years ever. Severe drought conditions last winter and a federal court decision three months ago have left major reservoirs in the state depleted as farmers prepare for their 2008 growing season.

As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and key legislative leaders huddled in Sacramento earlier this week to try and reach consensus on a fix to California’s severe water crisis, worry rippled across farm country. This is the time for farmers to make planting schedules, get their capital in place and set their course for the new year. But 2008 will be anything but easy for California agriculture. In fact, it could be an outright disaster.

Hanging over the state are two droughts: one imposed by Mother Nature, and another imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger, who in August, ordered massive pumps near Tracy shut down to restrict water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Steve Patricio, chairman of Western Growers Association, said the farmers are finding ways to cope with the upcoming cutbacks:

Like they have always done, farmers are trying to cope. They are drilling new wells, deepening old ones and installing water-conserving irrigation systems to try to stave off the effects of drought. Some are contemplating selling what little water they get to forgo the misery in 2008.

Western Growers has estimated that 82,000 acres of farmland could be fallowed next year even if the state gets average rain and snow this winter. That will inflict at least a $69 million hit to farm production, according to a Western Growers study.

To read the full text of this article from the Capitol Ag Press, click here.

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