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Commentary: Water scarce or water abundant?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 19, 2008 at 3:03 pm

From Willits News, a commentary which explains how watersheds, groundwater, surface water and urvan development work together in increasing or diminishing a water supply:

Scientific evidence produced by USGS groundwater studies and a recent detailed watershed analysis by the California Department of Fish and Game presents clear evidence that our watersheds capacity to hold water has been greatly reduced by the accumulation of urban developments, gravel and timber extractions, overgrazing, and reservoir impoundments. These and new developments continue to accumulate and degrade the watershed.

This evidence, in brief, begins in the early 1900s with dewatering of Little Lake and diverting the northern outlet. The lake; a mechanism to absorb floodwaters was the most biodiverse element of our watershed. Relocating, straightening, channelizing, and diverting the six main feeder creeks directly to Outlet Creek, bypassing the lake, increased water flows and prevented full saturation of the valley’s aquifer.

Timber harvesting scared the land and loosened the topsoil. The resulting erosion dumped huge sediment loads into the creeks reducing their capacity rendering them shallow. Shallow water increased flood risks and water temperatures and reduced salmon habitat. Overgrazing impacted the soils further reducing groundwater infiltration and altered plant diversity.

These impacts are neither fully understood nor recognized as having anything to do with water scarcity. Water scarcity is produced by water demands that exceed supplies. Supplies are determined by land use and annual rainfall. Human demands are only part of the equation. If we are to live in a lush, biodiverse environment, then biological requirements will have to be considered.

Read the full text of this commentary from Willits News by clicking here.

July 19, 2008 · Filed Under Environment & Water, Water Supply