Posted on 08/19/2008 1:22:17 PM PDT by TheDon
An important California reservoir is nearing its lowest level in 30 years, and other state reservoirs also are very low – more evidence of a gathering water crisis that could lead to mandatory rationing in Southern California by next year, state officials say.
The Oroville Reservoir in Northern California, a major supply reservoir for water that eventually flows into the Southern California region, is down to 38 percent of its capacity, according to the state Department of Water Resources.
By Sept. 30, Oroville, about 75 miles north of Sacramento, is expected to hit its lowest level since 1977, and by year's end, the lowest level since records have been kept, said Wendy Martin, the statewide drought coordinator.
The agency's Web site says precipitation statewide was 30 percent of average in April, May and June, the sixth driest of 114 years on record – powerfully affecting the Sierra snow pack, which melts and drains into Oroville.
...
Much depends on how much rain the state receives during the coming winter months.
"It's going to be an ongoing story here over the next several months, kind of no matter how it plays out," Patterson said. "Either there is going to be widespread rationing around the state, or we dodge the bullet and it gets wet."
...
Tightened supplies are likely to drive up water rates, water agency officials say. And if the coming winter is relatively dry, local water agencies could impose rationing next year, said Karl Seckel, assistant general manager for the Municipal Water District.
"We're laying the groundwork for mandatory rationing in 2009 – meetings, plans are being laid, so if we have to implement it, we can flip the switch and go to mandatory," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Which story are you talking about?
The Discovery channel had a show a while back that theorized a wall of pipes near the ocean. There would be pumps that would drive seawater up the pipes and back into the ocean. Since the seawater is cooler than the surrounding air, water vapor (freshwater) would condense on the pipes and be recovered.
I’m not sure what volume of water could be acquired this way but the idea is clever.
Without getting into specifics, I was too soft hearted with 4 orphan baby racoons.
Sorry, I was talking about the water abuse by SoCal during the 77 drought.
That was the year I moved up here above the damned Auburn Dam!!!
Way past time for desalination plants up and down the coast!
nuclear/ desalinization plants
The lefties can try to do without juice, but thirst will demand water
Um, urine is also acidic, females apparently more so for some reason.
Yes, whatever we do don’t build Nuclear Desalinization plants off the coast in Southern CA, wouldn’t want to actually have enough water for the idiots that inhabit LA and the surrounding areas. I get so sick of the BS leftists put out and the idiots that swallow their BS.
Do you remember who the reporter was or where he/she/it was from?
At my house I just shoot the little buggers with my pellet gun [city limits prevents higher cals.]. They've gotten the idea they're not welcome. At her house I've thought about just putting a hose down the hole and flooding them out.
That's the truth. Most of our problems could be solved by sending the illegals home.
Wait until Colorado starts asking for its share of the Colorado River...as long as McCain keeps his paws off of the Compact.
Colorado will go ballistic if the feds start messing with the water situation in the West.
The calls for rationing and conservation will do little to offset the continuous influx of invaders across the Mexican border. The additional demand they place upon resources will rapidly outstrip conservation efforts.
I am using tons of water now so when they say I have to cut back 10% or so next year, I’ll have plenty. It is not worth trying to save water now since they’ll use that as next year’s baseline. Ahh, the lessons you learn from experience!
That is beautiful.
I don't remember, though there was a story on TV about it some time over the past few years. IIRC, the story was something like this... Reporter goes to "LA" on vacation. While driving through subdivisions, he notices that all the lawns are green and people are out hosing down their driveways. He calls up his station in the Bay Area and they bring down a crew to cover the story. It really stirred up a hornet's nest up here.
If we had a functioning state gov’t, they’d determine how many desalination plants are required in SoCal to supply all of the water needs of SoCal, then build them.
Among other things...
I don’t know, ever heard of the Pacific Ocean? :-)
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The ocean = millions of years of fish pooh-pooh. Yum!
We wash our cars on the grass in order to have a two for one. Don’t judge all of Southern California by the area around LAX or we will judge you by South SF and Oakland.:)
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