Posted on 03/02/2009 9:25:44 AM PST by Mike Fieschko
... The disaster coming this spring and summer is no movie, and nothing menacing is falling from the sky. It's about what's not falling from the sky — rain. After three years of below-average rain and snowfall, coupled with new pumping restrictions to protect endangered fish, California's farmers are running out of water. The devastating impact has trickled down to dozens of small Central Valley farming communities. ...
The farmers who will be slammed the hardest are those who depend on the Central Valley Project, the massive federal system of dams, reservoirs, pumps and canals that helped spawn California's $36 billion farming industry — the state's largest. ...
All of the water used to nourish Coburn's orchards comes from the Central Valley Project. And on Feb. 20, federal water officials announced a "zero allocation'' to farmers — most likely for the rest of the year. Farmers who depend on water from the State Water Project are only slightly luckier — they have been told their allocation will be 15 percent of normal. ...
The rough times for Firebaugh started in August 2007 when U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger reduced the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect the delta smelt, a tiny fish, from extinction. ...
The huge Westlands Water District, wholly dependent on federal water, predicts up to 400,000 acres of its 611,000 acres of farmland will lie fallow this year. Farmers such as Coburn are spending millions of dollars desperately digging wells. But the water underground contains so much salt and boron it will kill orchards and vineyards in two or three years.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Water wars ping
If the orchards are not given any water will the trees burn? If they do it will take years for them to grow back.
Beautiful downtown Firebaugh, gateway to Mendota.
Mendota, the garbage dump for San Joaquin and Tranquillity. I remember driving to Firebaugh to buy fire crackers in the late 40s...
I remember fishing at Whites Bridge.
I was the guy in the Model A coupe. I was using a cane pole...
Save a fish. Kill a state.
Did you ever fish at Whites Bridge Jim? And why is it called Whites Bridge? Isn’t that racist?
Forget the orchards - what about the vineyards!?! Yee Gods, CA wine at $100 a bottle? I’ll move to France!
Time to start a victory garden?
I don't drink so I guess I wouldn't care. However, the damage the California politicians are doing to their own economy is a precursor to what Obama is trying to do. STILL people don't get it.
My goodness - you don’t drink? How have you FUNCTIONED since Nov. 4th? I mean, prayer is all well and good but the few hours at home when not in church are hard to take sober! (Kidding...)
Not to worry. The Federal govt will take that land off farmers hands and turn it into a national park. /s/
The famers should get the water first fterall they are feeding America and the world. Put the cities on severe water restrictions and halt any new home building until the crisis passes.
Thanks for the laugh! No. I don't drink. And, you know what? Obama will still be there if I get drunk. I'd rather face the destruction of the U.S. sober. :)
Thank heavens the fish have been saved! You know, on another note, vegetable prices have gone way up! I can’t imagine why. They need price controls on food these days. Greedy farmers and food stores!
(/libtard)
The trees and grapevines may not survive a summer without water. This is extremely frustrating because the “Delta” smelt is not even native to California!
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