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EcoChef: Drought prompts water efficiency

Posted by: Maven on April 22, 2009 at 8:09 am

From the Contra Costa Times Eco-Chef, this column:

I was recently up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, walking along the bank of the Cosumnes River. In past years, the trail I was on would have been at least six feet under water, as the river swelled with spring precipitation and snowmelt. But this year the water level was several feet down the bank.

While I was happy to be able to take my beautiful hike along a dry path, it was a disturbing indicator of California’s water supply status.

As summer approaches, the question of water is on everyone’s mind. We are experiencing the third year in a row of lower than normal precipitation, and a variety of state agencies and nongovernmental groups are studying the problem and releasing recommendations on how best to move forward.

“California has a history of droughts, but there are some significant differences between the current drought and those of the past,” notes a joint “Report to the Governor” from the California Departments of Water Resources and Food and Agriculture. Recent regulatory restrictions to protect endangered species, an increase in the number of California residents (by 9 million since 1990), and a change in agricultural crops toward orchards and vineyards have put increased strain on our water supply, the report continues.

Access to a steady supply of clean water is something that affects everyone, no matter where they live or what they do for a living. Some, however, will feel the effects of the water shortage more sharply than others. This is because different parts of the state have widely different water rights. While the overall water demand far outstrips the available supply (even in a “normal” year), some regions and agricultural districts have historical rights to unlimited water, while others have none.

April 22, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack

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