Sierra Snow
The Sierra mountains in California are the source of the snowmelt that makes farming in the central valley possible. Trouble is brewing.
I'm keeping an eye on this website daily. I live and work in the Central Valley of California, a major breadbasket for much of the nation. Groundwater levels are falling, and seasonal surface water deliveries are expected to be zero this season.
Surface water comes from snowmelt in the Sierras; as the snow melts it fills the rivers from February to June and is stored in reservoirs.
From them, there is a network of canals that crisscross the valley and deliver "ditch water" to farmers growing fruits, nuts, and produce.
Two years ago, there were six weeks of river water to local farmers; last year, there were three weeks; this year the forecast is zero.
To compensate, farmers must use ground water pumps during the heat of the summer, which sharply boosts electric demand during the hottest months and also depletes the precious waters of the deep aquifer that exists below the valley floor. This makes rolling blackouts more likely this year.
Wells are running dry left and right, and well drillers are making boatloads of money drilling new and deeper wells.
We had a good rainfall in December which took us to above average snow at that point in the year; but we've had nothing since, and that headstart we got is dwindling rapidly.
California is the source of some 60% of the nations produce. Think carefully about what is at risk here.
Pray for rain
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Great post! Are you aware of what Newsom's been doing with our CA water?
Democrats’ Refusal To Maintain Calif.’S Water
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:23 PM PT – Tuesday, August 31, 2021
The looming water crisis in California has officials concerned over how to supply water to the state’s farmers as well as 40 million residents. One America’s Pearson Sharp has more.
Excellent video: https://www.oann.com/democrats-refusal-to-maintain-calif-s-water/
Have been thinking about it. Driving up and down I5 for the last 15 years, seeing all those signs about "Congress-created dustbowl" and seeing NOTHING about it in any big name news outlet got me looking for any news at all, just one piece in a Fresno outlet back then. Then John Batchelor started hosting Devin Nunes, and I learned more. Lara Logan has a good piece on FoxNation that covers the plight of the Central Valley farmers, featuring Nunes and VD Hanson.
I'm really glad you posted about this, I hope that you will continue posting about it, and link to other sources.
I have begun to think that this situation is hand-in-hand with the lack of supply/increased cost of urea, and the insane cost increases in fertilizer which will cause less corn to be grown this year, bringing about a whole other mess. Is this part of the movement of "creating the problem then providing the solution" craziness of the Predator Class now seemingly in charge of all the globe? Oh yeah, that and the reported purchase of vast swaths of farmland by Gates and the CCP, are those things true? And the attempted normalizing of "eating insects", "beyond meat"...what a CF.
I never thought I would write such "crazy talk" but here I am. To the powers-that-be: Prove me wrong.