The California drought has left the state scrambling to provide water for its nearly 40 million residents and its very thirsty agricultural sector. With California now into its fourth year of crippling drought, Los Angeles County’s water agency has proposed water-use mandates that could force some families to reduce usage by 70 percent or face a steep bill increase. The state aims to reduce overall urban water use by 25 percent, but critics of the L.A. County plan have claimed that large families, especially in Malibu, Antelope Valley, and Topanga Canyon will be forced to make steeper cuts to meet usage goals. Residents of Antelope Valley use 650 gallons on average each day per household while Malibu and Topanga Canyon use approximately 361 gallons per household. The proposed water-use mandates would force residents of Antelope Valley to reduce water consumption by 32 percent which has drawn an outcry from residents who showed up in large numbers to protest the mandate at a hearing on May 26th.
California has survived dry spells throughout its history, but the length and severity of the current drought may be a result of modern environmental factors. Recent studies agree that a region of high atmospheric pressure, known as a blocking ridge, has been disrupting wind patterns off California’s coast for the past three winters, which in turn has diverted seasonal storms northwards. Scientists from Stanford University believe greenhouse gases have made the formation of such a blocking ridge more likely. Using computer simulations and statistical models, the scientists found the chances of ridge formation were three times higher in the presence of modern greenhouse-gas concentrations than those found just before the industrial revolution. According to Barton Thompson of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions will only exacerbate California’s water issue in the future.
Impact on Agriculture
The drought has had a significant impact on California’s agricultural economy. California’s most important economic region may be its Central Valley, one of the world’s most productive agricultural areas. Virtually all of the almonds, artichokes, lemons, pistachios, and processed tomatoes grown in the United States originate from the valley, whose productive soil is unmatched elsewhere in the country. California’s spinach yield, for example is 60 percent more per acre than the rest of the United States.
Not surprisingly, California’s agricultural output demands a lot of water. Irrigation claims up to 41 percent of the state’s water supply, while cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco demand comparatively little. Last year, the drought cost the sector an estimated $2.2 billion and nearly 17,000 farming jobs. The influential role California’s agriculture industry plays in the U.S. and global economies makes it imperative for the states and federal government to develop policy that mitigates the economic costs that stem from droughts.
The drought has caused many surface water sources to dry up, which has prompted farmers to turn to groundwater to hydrate their crops. According to a Stanford study, as much as 60 percent of the water used in the state last year may have been pumped to the surface, a statistic that is up from 40 percent during average years. The lack of groundwater has forced farmers to pursue alternative strategies, including moving agriculture production north; focusing more on high value crops like fruits, nuts and vegetables; and, drilling wells at an alarming pace. Pumping billions of gallons of water from the ground is depleting a resource that was critically endangered even before the drought began.
Congress is Paying Attention
On June 2nd 2015 the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on the status of drought conditions throughout the western United States. During the hearing Senators discussed the drastic economic impact the 2015 draught has had on the agricultural industry in states such as Washington, Arizona, California and New Mexico. The Senate panel heard testimonies from senior members of the U.S. Department of Interior, Arizona Department of Water Resources, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Family Farm Alliance. Witnesses discussed the need for local, state, and federal governments to actively pursue partnerships in improving infrastructure investments in order to actively deal with the droughts affecting western states.
Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) remarked on the need for more collaboration, cooperation, and flexibility in order to improve water storage and conservation, and water resource projects in years to come. Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) discussed the possibility of states diversifying their water portfolio and the need for improvement of water conservation at a local level.
Innovative solutions are needed to resolve current drought issues and prepare for future challenges. Improvements in water resource policies and regulations, as well as investment in water infrastructure are desperately needed in order to enhance the conservation and storage of water in western states. It has yet to be seen whether or not western states and the federal government can work together effectively to provide the legislative and financial support needed to combat water scarcity in the United States. However, the increased focus on the issue at a national level along with the stronger show of leadership from state governors are promising signs.
For more information about this article contact Michael May at Michael@warwickconsultants.net