Posted on 01/15/2017 9:29:21 AM PST by Mariner
After a half-decade of drought, California has been buffeted this winter by a series of powerful rain and snowstorms that dumped countless billions of gallons of water on the state’s watersheds.
Some of the deluge was captured in the form of mountain snows that will feed rivers and streams during the annual spring melt. But at lower elevations, it was rain, some retained in man-made reservoirs that had become seriously depleted, but most flowing swiftly to the Pacific Ocean.
At one point last week, flows on the Sacramento River and its American River tributary were more than 130,000 cubic feet each second, much of which was diverted into bypass channels to protect the state capital from flooding that periodically devastated the city during the 19th century.
Let’s put that flow in perspective. Each cubic foot is equates to 7.5 gallons, so that meant nearly a million gallons were passing through, or around, Sacramento every second – enough water to fill an empty Folsom Lake-sized reservoir in about four days.
As the Sacramento River was running high, fast and dirty last week, a few blocks away, in the state Capitol, Gov. Jerry Brown was unveiling a new state budget. He renewed his annual pitch to build financial reserves so that when recession hits, as it inevitably will, the impact on the state budget will be cushioned.
It’s good advice, whether it involves a state budget or a family’s finances. Having a cushioning reserve is, as Brown terms, it “prudence.”
But what is prudent in a state’s budget also is prudent in a state’s water supply, which is at least as volatile and unpredictable as tax revenue.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
First Step is to stop automatically releasing water when resoviors get to 60% of capacity
It’s some rule from the 1930s when weather forecasting was inaccurate.
it’s idiotic that in the middle of a drought a resovior dumps millions of acre feet of water just in case
This all misses the point. In the Soviet Republic of California, our elected totalitarians solve the lack of infrastructure with Orwellian control of the populace. It is truly impossible to live free in this state.
As an example, the little confection used in 49 states to decorate cakes and cookies, dragees, are illegal in California.
Perhaps California should consult with Israel. They can make the desert bloom with a lot less natural resources.
Regular citizens in Colorado cannot collect rainwater since this would harm the environment. It won’t be long before Kalifornia institutes the same thing. The EnviroWackos call it rainwater ‘harvesting.’ Humans saving water in lakes and damns is not ‘natural.’ Every year at least 50% of I
Again, you propose using logic and common sense. This is Kalifornia we’re talking about here. And Israel? Israel is mean to all those warm, tolerant, peace loving Palis.
The lefties are still trying to get rid of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. No time to think about new dams
“it’s idiotic that in the middle of a drought a resovior dumps millions of acre feet of water just in case”
It would be fine if they would just dump it into the fields instead of the ocean.
Actually, beyond 60% full this time of year is dangerous. A Pineapple Express over 30ft of snow in March makes for a REAL mess.
“Can individuals collect water? Or is that prohibited?”
Silly question. It’s California, so of course it’s prohibited. Doing so and getting caught, will subject you to all sorts of violations of environmental laws with hefty fines and possible jail time. No joke. Look it up if you don’t believe me.
The dams are for flood control too. In 1862 the Central Valley was an inland sea.
I believe you - I was afraid that was the case. Sad that it’s illegal for individuals to do the right things that the government refuses to do...
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