Groundwater is the most important natural resource a state can obtain. This is true for the state of California, which is fifth in the world for the production of agriculture. In a state with numerous climate regions and various different landscape and soil profiles it is astonishing to be able to grow over 400 different commodities. This is only possible with the unique design of the irrigation systems that provide eighty percent of the total amount of water used by agriculture producers in the state. Although, farmers and rancher only use forty percent of water in California. Since California is experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought water is a hot topic. The general problem is the lack of water in the state which is causing …show more content…
Recognition began in 1928 when pioneer researcher O.E. Meinzer of the U.S. Geological Survey realized that aquifers were compressible” (ca.water.usgs.gov).
History of the Issue
Examining the history of California agriculture, it began with predominately growing wheat and livestock production. This was due to the climate and season California provided for these crops. The wet cold winters and the dry, hot summers were the most beneficial for the wheat production. Within the years to come though, specialty crops became an increasing desired product. This caused the development of irrigation systems throughout the state. Irrigation was thee biggest influence in California agriculture, this is because it transformed millions of desert-like acres in to production ground suitable to grow the 400 different commodities California now produces. However, when there is a drought in the state, which is a natural occurring event, it causes stress on the area in California that are reliant on surface water the irrigation systems provide the producers. This problem is important because growing crops are farmer’s livelihood, and they still need water to keep their crops are alive therefore they rely on groundwater. In fact, groundwater basin provided 38 percent of the water supply, and “during dry years, groundwater contributes up to 49 percent (or more) of the statewide annual supply. [Groundwater also serves] as a critical buffer the impacts of drought and
After more than five years of drought in California, we are just now beginning to see an above-average precipitation,and this is leaving many to ask, "is the drought over?" This last drought was one of the worsts droughts California has experienced in history and it left many panicked and trying to come up with solutions. “Governor Jerry Brown even made one of the first cutback to farmers ' water rights since 1977, and ordered cities and towns to cut water use by as much as 36 percent ” (Zamora,et al..) Overall California has 39 million residents and on top of that California also grows an unbelievable amount of
One of the biggest consumers of groundwater in our state are farmers. During a drought the farmers have to use wells to water their crops. The water from these wells use garoundwater from Aquifers. Water in Aquifers provide 60% of California's groundwater in drought years. Because California has been in a drought for the last 5 years, farmers have used and over used groundwater from wells. Over-pumping can compress soil and rocks making them compact
Another one of the many problems that the severe water drought caused was it has a big impact on farmers, families,business, and many other people in the Sacramento area. In “Addressing California’s Droughts” it states that the harsh drought has been hurting a lot of Sacramento families, farmers, and small business that don’t do so well because of the drought which affects their business majorly (Addressing California’s Droughts).The CBS News explain that the State Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin says “there simply is not enough water in the system to meet the needs of the farmers” (Facing Drought,California Will Not Allow Water To The Farmers, Cities). It is also said that without the water on the surface the farmers have to pump water from underground aquifers (Facing Drought,California Will Not Allow Water To The Farmers,Cities). This happens to alter the farmers and their business because without the water for their crops they end up not having any business because they don’t have any crops grown to
California’s continuous drought not only affects California, but essentially impacts the entire food system. Could you imagine an entire state unable to contribute to the growing demands of a thriving economy? As California enters its fifth year of drought the consequences of an ever depleting natural resource, water, continues to negatively impact landscape plants, agricultural production, wildlife, and the economy. The lack of water in California has the potential to have a devastating effect on an ever thriving economy.
Right now there is a drought in California and it is due to the water usage. Bach in the gold rush due to miners mining for gold, the rivers became polluted and freshwater became limited. After the earthquake in San Francisco that cause a big fire, San Francisco was in dire need of water so they made a plan to built a dam in Hetch Hetchy. Many people argue as to whether to build the dam and in the end the dam was built and that has shape California’s water system hugely. The use of water in California now has not been in the best interest of the state because The amount of water use for agriculture is disportional, laws are making us use more water than needed and the Indians and environment are being harm.
Due to the lack of rain in the past few years, and particularly in the last few months, California faces severe drought. This is the worst drought in more than one hundred years. The impact of California drought affects community, agriculture, organic ranchers, and dairy farmers. Because of these facts, the United States must rethink the way it uses water. Californians alone are asked to reduce their water usage by twenty percent to prevent water waste.
California is undergoing a huge environmental crisis of water shortages across the state. California produces almost half of the US grown vegetables, fruits, and nuts. It produces more than 400 commodities (CDFA,2013). The drought has had a huge effect on agriculture because the farmers have received drastic cuts on their water usages which greatly affected their yields. The whole United States is feeling the effects due to the drought because of less crop yields, prices have
California has always had a warm climate, yet its supply of water has rarely been affected. In 2014 California’s water shortage issue truly began. Due to low amounts of snow in the winter in recent years, California has tried to equal out these shortages by drilling water from underground aquifers. Yet, underground aquifers recharge much slower than surface water sources. California has already made significant drawbacks to attempt to limit the amount of water they use, so these aquifers can recharge. But still resources continue going down and the Central Valley Aquifer’s water level is rapidly declining. Luckily, on April 7, 2017 the drought stage of emergency in California was ended. Yet the issue isn’t truly resolved. Glen MacDonald
California state and some other west regions face the problem of severe drought and the researchers show several reasons to explain this phenomena. According to research in weather data for the past century, in terms of overall precipitation and spring snowpack, the past three years are not record-breakers and paleoclimate studies show that the current drought is not exceptional given the natural variations in precipitation of the past seven centuries. It cannot thoroughly attribute drought to global warming. California may be faced a future of “perfect drought” because of following reasons. Rising heat increases the evaporation, continuing depletion of ground water, and growing water shortages on the Colorado River [1]. It is predictable
Currently California is facing a water shortage. The issue has been addressed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in February. He called for all state agencies to find the way to help in the statewide water shortage. This is California’s third consecutive year of drought and last spring and summer was the worst of the season because it had the lowest amount of water recorded and California’s reservoirs were at their lowest point as well which did not help in the water shortage. Many agencies have been acquired to find possible solutions to the water shortage, the Department of Water Resources has been directed to find solutions to the problem as well as asking people to conserve water.
California is known for its vast production of agriculture; having some of the most fertile soil on Earth, a 4-year drought is not what California wants. The lack of water in California has had dramatic effects within the state. In fact California’s governor, Jerry Brown, has declared it a state of emergency. A drought is a serious weather condition in which many people and the environment is entirely affected. A drought is essentially a difference in the amount of water in a region and the amount of water that the people and the environment in that region needs (Mann et al. 2015). The definition of a drought varies throughout regions depending on the amount of water each region receives and needs. The time limit to announce a drought also
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the greatest writers of the 19th century. He wrote many great short stories and poems such as “The Raven”, “Tell-Tale Heart”, and “The Masque Of The Red Death”. Poe’s literature is best known for its dark and mysterious themes. Poe used many literary devices to create the dark themes in his writings. The themes in Poe’s writings was always about death, love and human suffering.
California's drought is a pressing issue. There is problems with water supply, and also water restrictions. The environment is drying and is causing major flooding. There are some clues to how the drought started, like climate change. There are some companies who are actually making money of the drought.
The empires of both the British and the Japanese through their expansion tactics allowed them to shape certain aspects of other cultures during their growth. The British Empire, with its influence and the power to control, during its greatest time was one of the largest empires to ever cover the world. The Japanese Empire while not as powerful and vast as the British Empire was able to use the change of its government to begin its own conquests.
Tuesday’s lecture was given by a Native American medicine woman who emphasized the need to ancestral healing for past reconciliation and redemption. She told us different stories that have medical reverence in her community and explained how the characters in the stories represent someone or a group in some facet in our lives, and the lives of our predecessors. One story she recited was The Brown Bear which was centered around a large solemn bear who lived in a cave and killed many members of a nearby tribe. A local witch, against the will of the entire village, goes inside the bear’s dark cave to consult her and understand why she would mercilessly take lives. The medicine women understood form the bear that some of the warriors had killed