The way most of the farmers in that area irrigate is with impact sprinklers. There is a great deal of loss on a windy day, which is usual. Between that and the evaporation off the leaves the farmer loses 15% of what is ejected from the nozzle. Considering the acreage, that's a lot of water.
The greenies will blame the farmers for the persistence of Bromus madritensis in that Mojave region as displacing native wildflowers, seeing as they haven't a either the clue or the inclination to do anything effective about it.
Considering the acreage, that’s a lot of water. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No it is not. Its actualy less than a drop in the bucket
of the earths regional weather system.
Thats why it is ludicrous.
Seem to remember reading that the cental valley was impassable until late summer most years because Tule lake occupied most of the valley floor. William Brewer wrote extensivly of it in his travels as the state surveyor 1851-1854. Ferrys were used between Yurba Buena (San Francisco) and Sacramento because land travel was by way of Bakersfield.
I think even Kit Carson and Fremont both talked about valley crossings being cirquitus.