This story is archived
Sierra snowpack at lowest level since 1990 »
Posted by: Eagle_Eye 2 years, 8 months agoSACRAMENTO (AP) - The water content in the Sierra snowpack is at its lowest level in nearly two decades, leading to concern that California may not be able to fulfill its water obligations to cities and farms if dry conditions persist for another year.
Read Full Story at usatoday.com »
Submitted By:
Eagle_Eye
I am a female who has lived a complex life with complex situations and have learned a lot from my experiences.
I love the Environment ...
Who Also Submitted:
This Story is Archived and Commenting is Closed
Comments: 230
-
Eagle_Eye
March 28, 2007, 11:16 p.m.What is going to happen if the demand for water is not meant??
This is happening right now here in America, we may face a water shortage due to Climate Change.
What is going to happen if this affects other areas also, or has it and we're not being told.
-
ETproductions
March 28, 2007, 11:27 p.m.It's hard to pin this on climate change, but there is little doubt that global warming and resultant climate change will produce increasing weather extremes. Bigger storms, areas of torrential rain, areas of extreme drought.
It's ironic that on a planet with 75% of its surface covered with water, we are short of water anywhere. With adequate exploitation of solar desalination, we should be able to resolve this. That's not to say substitute desalination for controlling pollution and global warming. Both should be viewed not as expensive, but as economic opportunities. If our universities can lead the world in this, the US may stand a chance of correcting our present massive trade imbalance.
-
-
Eagle_Eye
March 28, 2007, 11:38 p.m.Think about all the produce that we get across the country from California, if this happens we will be screwed with produce and other things grown in California, like wine.
-
truthiness
March 29, 2007, 12:11 a.m.5th largest economy in the world.
I lived in Tahoe for three years (admitly ot was during el nino/la nina) during the winter we recieved snowfalls of 4 feet at lake level almost daily-much more higher up.
this is where the 60 something winter olympics were held.
its hard to imagine a dry winter in tahoe.
-
kctrixter
March 29, 2007, 12:23 a.m.never really knew or thought about hydroelectric plants using runoff to generate power before.
As said in the article a couple of these years back to back and things get real serious.
-
HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
-
lfergie812
March 29, 2007, 1:02 a.m.According to the article, there is no need for panic yet but if rainfall does not come this spring, there might be cause to start planning for other way to get fresh water. That's California though, in the past couple of decades they have either had too much rain which cause mud slides or too little rain that fuels forest fires.
-
m-simon
March 29, 2007, 5 a.m.Snow pack was lower when there was less warming?
How do you explain that?
-
-
Justice4All
March 29, 2007, 8:03 a.m.We went through the same thing in the early 90s. Then it started raining again and everyone forgot about it.
-
Amazing1
March 29, 2007, 8:16 a.m.Water. So necessary to food production. So vital to our very lives. KInda scary about California. I hope they can find a solution to this for the long term.
-
-
Eagle_Eye
March 29, 2007, 9:35 a.m.What if they can't meet water needs this year?
What if they don't have record snow falls next year because of Climate Change and instead have the record snow falls in the east? What happens then?
-
Eagle_Eye
March 29, 2007, 9:33 a.m.I was also wondering what is going to happen this spring when all the "record" snow melts and starts heading down stream.
Who wants to start naming cities down stream that are going to get flooded out?
Wasn't it Kansas City that got it really bad last time and lost city blocks because of River heights?
-
Eagle_Eye
March 29, 2007, 11:10 a.m."I've heard predictions of this very thing happening years ago.", Me to, and with the huge population growth and farming becoming a big business in California the water needs are tremendous.
I think the Dairy Cows may be headed back to Wisconsin.
-
joeblowe
March 29, 2007, 11:29 a.m.Interesting, but they left out some facts that I was looking for. For example: If the snow is at it's lowest level THIS YEAR since 1990, what has it been like in the intervening 20 years? Below "normal"? Above "normal"? Also, at what percentage of "normal" does it become a real problem instead of a "concern?" Does it have to get down to 10% of "normal?" Is 40% a critical level? And, if LA has all that water, where did THAT come from? They have a nice reserve -- why doesn't everyone else? A -LOT- of questions left unanswered. Wonder why...
-
groingo
March 29, 2007, 11:37 a.m.Here in the Norwest we have 110 percent of normal, but what year was normal based on?
Also, we may have lots of snow, but our problem is lack of storage capacity and no conservation...just use it and worry about consequences later, besides, the water utility can then raise your rates...ever see a water utility do what they promised when water is tight, "we're just temporarily raising the rates, when the levels return we'll lower the rates" never happens.
-
NelsonR
March 29, 2007, 11:37 a.m.Conservative say no Global warming. I'm a snowmobiler and I despise Conservative Republicans for their failure to see what is in front of their eyes, so I say to them,
BUY Stock in snowmobile companies, the future is bright!!
-
Eagle_Eye
March 29, 2007, 12:48 p.m.KelLuv, good point!! We have been seeing way to much of that lately, all this recall of tainted produce, you just made me think about that, perhaps that is the reason, contaminated water supply.
Oh boy, if that is the case it is more serious that previously thought if they are already using contaminated water. Besides E Coli what other contaminates are in the water i.e., chemicals and other things that bioacumulate in our tissues doing damage slowly so that it isn't as fast as the bacteria contamination.
Good one KelLuv!!
-
joeblowe
March 29, 2007, 5:29 p.m.Not unless the packing plants are using untreated water to wash the produce. Which, if they are, they should be fined out of business and/or imprisoned. You wouldn't take stuff out of your garden and go wash it off in the stream, would you? Unless, of course, you are really a raccoon? {8>D)=
Besides, how would E. Coli survive in running water? It is an intestinal bacteria. I'd bet money those outbreaks were caused by illegal immigrant farm workers failing to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Or maybe even LEGAL farm workers. Either way, THAT'S where your E. Coli problems come from. If it had been a problem with TOO MUCH flouride in the produce, MAYBE it would have come from the water. Municipal water supplies are invariably carefully watched. Particularly since 9/11.
-
KingOfTruth
March 29, 2007, 7:42 p.m.KelLuv :
joeblowe: So maybe by using that "dirty water" is what led to the E.Coli outbreak in spinach & lettuce 'eh?
Actually no. That was mostly because of illegal aliens working in the fields using the fields as bathrooms or them being sick or carriers of diseases.....I know some people tried to blame it on feral pigs, but that is highly unlikely....
-
BronxBomber
March 29, 2007, 1:23 p.m.This is incredible as well as tragic,yet we are paying for man's industrialization. Progress....
:-/
-
canadianrancher57
March 29, 2007, 1:45 p.m.What will they do? The answer is simple they will complain and like everyone else they will adapt. Water use will be resricted to hopefully all and the world will go on till it rains.
-
abntv
March 29, 2007, 2:25 p.m.Maybe Calif..should consider takeing all those desalinazation plants out of moth balls and finally put them to work
The first 146 comments are shown. Show all 230 comments »
Submit a Story
Advertisement
