Arnold declares Calif. in a state of emergency because of drought

[ensho]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent. "This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our communities, our economy and our environment, making today's action absolutely necessary," the Republican governor said in his statement. Mandatory conservation is an option if the declaration and other measures are insufficient. The drought has forced farmers to fallow their fields, put thousands of agricultural workers out of work and led to conservation measures in cities throughout the state. State agencies must now provide assistance for affected communities and businesses and the Department of Water Resources must protect supplies, all accompanied by a statewide conservation campaign. Three dry winters have left California's state- and federally operated reservoirs at their lowest levels since 1992. Federal water managers plan to temporarily cut off water this March to thousands of California farms. The state has said it probably would deliver just 15 percent of the water contractors have requested this year.

Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in June but stopped short of calling a state of emergency. His 2008 executive order directed the state Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the worst shortages and help local water districts with conservation efforts. Over the last few weeks, storms have helped bring the seasons' rain totals to 87 percent of average, but the Sierra snowpack remains at 78 percent of normal for this time of year. State hydrologists say the snowpack must reach between 120 to 130 percent of normal to make up for the two previous dry winters and replenish California's key reservoirs. The state delivers water to more than 25 million Californians and more than 750,000 acres of farmland. Schwarzenegger's order leaves the door open for more severe restrictions later. Additional measures can include mandatory water rationing and water reductions. At least 25 water agencies throughout the state already have imposed mandatory restrictions, while 66 others have voluntary measures in place. Almond farmer Shawn Coburn of Mendota said the move comes too late for many growers who already are halfway through the season. Some farmers didn't bring in bees to pollinate, while others sprayed their orchards with chemicals that keep nuts from forming.
---------------------------------------


this is serious stuff

[ensho]

1. people can be hohum about this but some big changes are

coming to Calif. all not good.

[Fireweed247]

2. This is huge

California produces a huge percentage of the food Americans eat, and if the California farmers go down, we are all going with them. We will be forced more and more to buy produce from countries with no environmental,pesticide regulations(not that ours are that good).

[ensho]

3. kicking for Sunday DUers

nt

[slackmaster]

4. This morning's newspaper included five "Water Cop" door tags from the San Diego Co. Water Authority

I can bust my neighbors now!

http://20gallonchallenge.com/pdf/NeighborNotice_color.pdf

[MadHound]

5. That should have been step one about two years ago

I remember when the Great Flood struck us out here in the Midwest in '93. Our water supply was threatened, everybody was put on mandatory reduced water, and we all got to play water cop. Most satisfaction I had was busting the Taco Bell next door to where I worked the night shift. Was out at five one morning and their sprinkler system automatically came on, boom, they were busted, had to pay a hefty fine.

[lunatica]

6. We know how to handle droughts. At least normal ones.

We've been in a pre-drought for a year or so already which means it's been voluntary cutting back on the usage of water. We know the drill. No watering the lawns, flush toilets sparingly and put a brick in the water tank, take short showers, no running water when brushing teeth, use the washing machine and the dishwasher less often, on shorter cycles and loaded more efficiently and restaurants stop serving water automatically, but you can ask for it if that's what you drink.

Three years is not uncommon. We've had droughts that last 7 years. But this one may be the first in the climate change mode, so there's no telling if it will naturally end as it has in the past.