Southern CA is not a desert? Turn off the water supply for 1 year and I can assure you, you will see a desert landscape.
Nearly everything growing in S. CA was planted by people and if the water is turned off, most if it dies off very quickly.
That’s simply not true. Most of this area is covered with natural chaparral. That wasn’t planted by anyone.
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Most of the central valley is clearly desert.
Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch and Pittsburg are all built on sand dunes. The ridge of hills to the east of Concord is a huge pile of sand, and Kirker creek is erroded like a miniature grand canyon.
People don’t realize that pumping water to the desert doesn’t cancel it.
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“Southern CA is not a desert? Turn off the water supply for 1 year and I can assure you, you will see a desert landscape.
Nearly everything growing in S. CA was planted by people and if the water is turned off, most if it dies off very quickly.”
Several rivers drain the local mountains, and deposit water into the aquafer too.
Pretty good agriculture in the area, prior to massive importation of water.
Citrus, other orchards, vegetables.
I recall reading sometime ago, that the pre-European Indians of the Lost Angeles basin were quite prosperous and numerous, with fishing, growing, mild climate etc.
The diaries kept by members of the Gaspar de Portola expedition clearly record the natural conditions in Southern California long before any efforts to bring water from outside the region.
Fray Juan Crespi, writing on July 17, 1769 northeast of what is now Carlsbad.
“In a little while we climbed a very grassy hill without rocks, in open country, then traveled over mesas that are in part covered with grass and in part by a grove of young oaks, rosemary, and other shrubs not known to us. Aside from this all the land is well covered with grass and is mellow. After traveling about a league we descended to a valley full of alders, in which we saw a village, but without people.”
Miguel Costansó, on July 20, 1769 near today’s Rancho Santa Margarita;
“We set out very early in the morning, following one of the canyons that terminated on the northern side of the valley of San Juan Capistrano. This canyon afterwards turned to the northeast, and, for this reason, we left it so as not to go out of our course. After passing some hills, we came into another spacious and pleasant canyon adorned with groves of trees and covered with pasture. The day’s journey was two leagues. To this place we gave the name of Santa Margarita.”
Gaspar de Portola, from today’s La Cienega Blvd. between Olympic Blvd. and Gregory Way, on August 3, 1769:
“We had much pasture, water, and an abundance of antelope and deer.”
I’m sure the king of Spain was thrilled he was adding so much barren desert to his kingdom!
Nearly everything growing in S. CA was planted by people and if the water is turned off, most if it dies off very quickly.
If there were an EMP pulse which shut down the electrical grid, would the dams still produce electricity or is electricity required to run the dams.
Off topic, I know.