Fresno- Zimbabwe???

[westwall]

California faces 'grimmest water situation ever' | Environment | The Guardian

Lester Snow, director of the California department of water resources, told reporters that the state faced its most severe drought since at least the early 1990s. "We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," Snow said. "It's imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately, at home and in their businesses."

The reality, however, is that Californians have been slow to reduce their water consumption. Central Valley farmer John Harris said that he had laid off about two-thirds of his workforce and had stopped cultivating most vegetables in order to concentrate on permanent crops. But despite overhauling his irrigation system, he remained critically short of water, a situation most people ignored, he said.

"Maybe when people turn on the shower and nothing comes out, that will be the final wake-up call, but agriculture will have taken devastating losses by the time that happens," he told agricultural publication Ag Alert.

While Chu warns that he can't see how California's cities could survive, their residents are steeped in a culture of challenging nature. Back in 1952, as drought reduced water levels, pulp science fiction writer Robert Heinlein wrote: "Angelenos committed communal suicide by watering lawns as usual ... The taps remained open, trickling away the life blood of the desert paradise."

I don't think they got the memo.... Snow pack is double normal. Also last year it was around 40% higher than normal throughout and 20% above normal in the Fresno area.

Sierra snowpack is twice as fat - Local - MercedSun-Star.com

 

[Trajan]

California faces 'grimmest water situation ever' | Environment | The Guardian

Lester Snow, director of the California department of water resources, told reporters that the state faced its most severe drought since at least the early 1990s. "We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," Snow said. "It's imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately, at home and in their businesses."

The reality, however, is that Californians have been slow to reduce their water consumption. Central Valley farmer John Harris said that he had laid off about two-thirds of his workforce and had stopped cultivating most vegetables in order to concentrate on permanent crops. But despite overhauling his irrigation system, he remained critically short of water, a situation most people ignored, he said.

"Maybe when people turn on the shower and nothing comes out, that will be the final wake-up call, but agriculture will have taken devastating losses by the time that happens," he told agricultural publication Ag Alert.

While Chu warns that he can't see how California's cities could survive, their residents are steeped in a culture of challenging nature. Back in 1952, as drought reduced water levels, pulp science fiction writer Robert Heinlein wrote: "Angelenos committed communal suicide by watering lawns as usual ... The taps remained open, trickling away the life blood of the desert paradise."

I don't think they got the memo.... Snow pack is double normal. Also last year it was around 40% higher than normal throughout and 20% above normal in the Fresno area.

Sierra snowpack is twice as fat - Local - MercedSun-Star.com

yes, we know.......one of the blurbs in his own dept. link say the res's are not an issue.