Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but wasn't it only just three short years ago (2006) where we had that really rainy winter and they said we'd managed to store up a comfortable surplus of water? And now only three years later, suddenly we're in the midst of "California's worst drought in decades"? Here's what I'm thinking: if we can go from a "comfortable surplus" to a "catastrophic drought" in only three years, then maybe the problem isn't the drought. Maybe the problem is that we've been using too much water. Or that the population of our state is constantly growing and growing but the amount of rainfall and snowfall is basically going to stay the same. Just a thought.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Crazy Rant #1: The California Drought
Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but wasn't it only just three short years ago (2006) where we had that really rainy winter and they said we'd managed to store up a comfortable surplus of water? And now only three years later, suddenly we're in the midst of "California's worst drought in decades"? Here's what I'm thinking: if we can go from a "comfortable surplus" to a "catastrophic drought" in only three years, then maybe the problem isn't the drought. Maybe the problem is that we've been using too much water. Or that the population of our state is constantly growing and growing but the amount of rainfall and snowfall is basically going to stay the same. Just a thought.
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I would criticize this more harshly, but you did title it Crazy Rant #1 so you're really just providing truth in advertising in a way.
One thing worth noting is that water usage does not directly affect rainfall. Humans could use no water at all and the area we refer to as California would still experience a drought.
Onto a more interesting subject; check out this list from below that article:
Nation's salad bowl
While California leads the nation in strawberry production, it also grows a large percentage of other crops. Among them:
•Artichokes: 19 percent
•Asparagus: 55 percent
•Broccoli: 93 percent
•Cabbage: 22 percent
•Carrots: 89 percent
•Celery: 94 percent
•Garlic: 86 percent
•Lettuce: 78 percent
•Cantaloupe: 54 percent
•Honeydew: 73 percent
•Onions: 27 percent
•Bell Peppers: 47 percent
•Spinach: 18 percent
•Tomatoes: 94 percent
•Almond: 99 percent
•Apricots: 95 percent
•Avocados: 84 percent
•Strawberries: 90 percent
•Dates: 82 percent
•Figs: 98 percent
•Grapes: 88 percent
•Kiwi: 97 percent
•Lemons: 89 percent
•Nectarines: 93 percent
•Olives: 100 percent
•Peaches: 76 percent
•Pistachios: 96 percent
•Plums: 93 percent
•Walnuts: 99 percent
•Honey: 18 percent
•Milk and cream: 21 percent
100% of olives? No one else grows them? And what's this line doing in there: "While California leads the nation in strawberry production, it also grows a large percentage of other crops." Why single out strawberries? Why not write: While California's stranglehold on the olive industry continues unabated, it also grows a large percentage of other crops.
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