tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4817488808342083958.post878421701716145772..comments2023-05-18T08:23:57.660-07:00Comments on a voice in Oakland California: The drought is only “sort-of” over Don Macleayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083015728635699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4817488808342083958.post-29236768235596153662017-05-16T18:25:50.953-07:002017-05-16T18:25:50.953-07:00There are other serious problems with the CA water...There are other serious problems with the CA water system:<br />1. 80% of wells tested in the areas where fracking is done showed contamination by fracking chemicals; since these are highly toxic, this is worrisome for people, animals, and crops in the affected areas. Bottled water is a pathetically inadequate solution. Companies must be required to do much more to protect citizens' water supplies, to use less toxic chemicals, and to fully remediate any harm done<br />2. Salt-water incursion has been a serious concern, particularly in So CA, as the local water table is diminished by being tapped for irrigation and sea water then infiltrates into the land. The agricultural land will ultimately become unfit for growing due to excessive salt unless solutions are found. This should be a priority.<br />3. Totally agree that replenishing ground cover is an urgent need as well as creating a plan for much better long-term water management. All planning should start from a base that the water is a public resource and that no private water rights or corporate contract can out-weigh public benefit.GloryBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01440868567083917581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4817488808342083958.post-52831670441163888312017-05-16T15:33:31.212-07:002017-05-16T15:33:31.212-07:00An excellent summary call to action and some good ...An excellent summary call to action and some good ideas. I would add the following: <br />1. the economics of agricultural water are still dysfunctional, with incentives that don't help preserve water or use it more carefully. E.g., with the aquifer depletion, rice and cotton are poor crop choices. <br />2. Opposition to building additional catchment and storage reservoirs is still widespread, especially compared to, e.g., Colorado.<br />3. Personally, I think global warming is a scam (that should become clearer in the next 10 years or so), but planning for worst-case drought and deluge scenarios is very wise, since the climate is going to change whatever we humans do. EMyrthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05754760101298461402noreply@blogger.com