Friday, October 31, 2008

California facing prospect of worst drought ever

California farmers are facing the prospect of receiving only 15 percent of the requested water next year. "A persistent dry spell and depleted reservoirs could sharply limit deliveries," reports Michael Gardner of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The amount delivered will depend on future snow and rainfall.

Unless California experiences an extremely dry early winter, voluntary conservation is viewed as the best option. If precipitation remains scarce the state may have to start considering mandatory water conservation. The state faced a similar water scare in 1993, but ultimately precipitation increased and 100 percent of requested water was delivered.

Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources, told Gardner, "We have the potential in a third year to have the worst drought in California history." The drought has forced California farmers to leave land unplanted for fear of not having necessary water for crops. Gardner writes, "In Kern County alone, 50,000 acres may be left unplanted because there is no water for irrigation."(Read more)

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