As of last Tuesday farmers that live and work within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are to receive aid in the form of water. This area has been in a drought state for at least three years running. The Farmers on the west side of the central valley are going to receive 20 percent more than the previous year. This allotment from the US Bureau of Reclamation went from 5% to 25%. This is a much needed service do to the fact that this is one of the most bountiful farming regions in the country. The Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said that they are working with a delicate system that is strained and will collapse and has no certainty with the water supply. Salazar also said "Hopefully we will be able to work with the state of California, with all of the water users and members of California's (Congressional) delegation to fashion a long-term plan that's so badly needed," Both state and federal offices will have to deal with challenges concerning the water issues and will hopefully come up with a long term plan from how to deal with the current water issues.
This article deals with cross boundary issues, intergovernmental issues, and scientific uncertainty. The issue facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a very important to everyone in the United States. This area produces half of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts for the whole country. If this area is affected by drought then the whole of the United State will be affected dramatically. This current issue is also important because of the scarcity of water within this area already. No one can actually predict the weather for the whole upcoming year so in order to keep using water there must be water available. If the delicate water table, delta, and aquifers are depleted, what the farmers and even municipalities will do to get it?
I personally believe that this water is a well needed investment. However I also believe that certain practices must change in order to use water effectively. Wasting a scarce resource is just not acceptable. I believe there should be an incentive or a water tax for people who live in this area. This will cut down on the water use as well as perhaps deter people from living there thus bringing down the water waste. Also the agricultural practices within this area should be forces to change to drip irrigation or some new technique along those lines to help save and conserve water. Drip irrigation claims to be around 90% efficient and uses far less water then any other conventional practice today. there is no run off or evaporation with drip irrigation and the water and fertilizers are only apllied where the are abosolutly need. Perhaps charging much more for water and subsidizing the technology to conserve it would be a much better practice. Subsidizing drought resistant crops could also be a solution. imagine drought resistant crops with drip irrigation. That would be effeicient! According to state officials in California they are trying to reduce the water use and capture water during wet years in order to use in dry years. This According to the Governor of California would be part of a comprehensive solution. The basic need is for this area is above all else put practices in place in order to be able to use them during the good years as well as the bad.
Has anyone thought about the fishery as well as the endangered fish species that may inhabit this particular delta. with the pumping of more water allotted by the government the more this delta is being pushed and strained along with the species of fish and other aquatic animals that may live within its waters. This in a recent news article claimed it was also scientifically justified. However it also claims that pumping is not only the reason for threatening these endangered fish species. Either way whether they increase pumping these government of California must do something now in order to save there scarce resource. Drip irrigation or drought resistant crop seems to be the most viable solutions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62F5ZP20100316
I agree with the fact that there needs to be some consideration made for the natural world when considering water issues. Our love of fruit should not come at the expense of animals that need water for survival. The state should also look to other states for assistance in this issue. California's water issues are also effected by neighboring states and even farther away states and how they use water. It seems that the federal government will likely have to make regulations on water use such as mandating the use of low flush toilets and other water saving devices and methods.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well that more consideration should be given to the wildlife and ecosystems affected. I think that instead of allotting more water to the farmers it would be more practical to encourage practices that would conserve water and make the water use more efficient. By reducing the demand for water there will be less pressure to take water from rivers and streams which hold sensitive species.
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