Californica facing worst drought in modern history

[sfpcjock]

...so thank you Buschmuck/Cheney's Law for kissing Exxon's ass for 8 years. You MOROONS! Only problem I can see here is that the forests begin to die after a few years of this :D

Calif. facing worst drought in modern history

ECHO SUMMIT, Calif. (AP) — State officials reported a Sierra Nevada snowpack smaller than normal on Thursday and said California may be at the beginning of its worst drought in modern history. Residents were immediately urged to conserve water.


Terry Cochrane, caretaker of the Lake Pillsbury Resort in Northern California, stands on the dock Thursday. During a normal wet year, the water would be approximately 30 to 40 feet deep at the dock.

The snowpack was about 61% of its usual depth across the 400-mile-long mountain range, according to the state Department of Water Resources, which released the findings as part of the second snow survey of the season.

Department Director Lester Snow said the results indicate California could be heading for a third dry year.

"We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," Snow said in a statement. "It's imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately at home and in their businesses."



Measurements of snow depth and snow water content in the Sierra are important because they help hydrologists forecast how much water California can expect to get in the coming year.

<...>

And in neighboring Nevada, the U.S. Agriculture Department has declared almost all of the state a natural disaster area because of losses caused by drought over the past year.

[madrchsod]

1. to many people in the semi-arid portion of the state

best start now before people have to abandon the southern part of the state

[XemaSab]

4. Can you read a map?

Note well that the EXTREME drought area is in the northern part of the state. (And yes, for those of you playing along at home, that's where I'm at.)

We usually get as much rain in the winter as Seattle, and we've got many very large rivers.

So which part of the state do you suggest we abandon again? :shrug:

[Auggie]

2. Coastal town of Bolinas limits use to 150 gallons a day -- or else

San Francisco Chronicle, 2-4-09:

With California in a critical drought, every shower, load of laundry and glass of tap water counts. But only in Bolinas could those things cost you your water connection.

The oceanside enclave in Marin County has enacted some of the state's toughest water restrictions. Each customer - with the exception of schools and some businesses - may use no more than 150 gallons a day, about 4,500 gallons each month.

A third violation of the order would allow the Bolinas Community Public Utility District to cut off water.

Without drastic cutbacks, officials say, the community of 1,200 could run out of water by the end of April. The town on the southern end of the Point Reyes Peninsula already is drawing from two emergency reservoirs, one of which is effectively empty.

LINK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/04/MNV415MGLA.DTL

[sfpcjock]

3. Wow. Haven't been out there for a few years

Obviously they cannot get what's left of the Sacto river water that far west so must rely on rainfall and ground water sources.

[XemaSab]

5. Every time I think the biggest tools in the state are in Redding

I read the SFGate comments section and I am reminded that they are everywhere. :banghead: