Post by The Big Dog on Mar 8, 2009 11:13:22 GMT -5
While the title might seem predictable, I do not disagree with the most militant environmentalists solely on political grounds. I disagree with them on specific issues where their shortsighted approach that disregards realities for the sake of "their cause".
This is one... and it is affecting each and every one of us.
This is one... and it is affecting each and every one of us.
Dan Walters: New reservoirs would have caught California rain
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Mar. 8, 2009
Nine days ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide "drought emergency," citing a third winter of subnormal precipitation and the precariously low levels of major reservoirs.
"Even with the recent rainfall, California faces its third consecutive year of drought and we must prepare for the worst – a fourth, fifth or even sixth year of drought," Schwarzenegger said. It's rained quite a bit since he uttered those words, either an ironic quirk of nature or a testament to the governor's persuasive powers.
The late winter rains may be a welcome, albeit partial, relief from the looming water crisis, but as Schwarzenegger also said on Feb. 27: "This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire, and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California's water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state."
<< snipped >>
Let's put that in perspective. At least a half-million acre-feet of water flowed past Sacramento in the first week after Schwarzenegger's drought declaration, half the capacity of Folsom Lake. But the most interesting aspect of that flow is that it didn't come from Folsom or the other two major dams on the Sacramento River system, Shasta and Oroville.
<< snipped >>
What happened in early March was a harbinger of what lies ahead for California if the theories about global warming prove true. We will get more of our precipitation in the form of rain and less in the form of snow, which means we will need more water storage capacity as the natural reservoir of the Sierra snowpack shrinks.
It's ironic that the folks who raise alarms about global warming are the same folks who oppose our preparing for its consequences.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Mar. 8, 2009
Nine days ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide "drought emergency," citing a third winter of subnormal precipitation and the precariously low levels of major reservoirs.
"Even with the recent rainfall, California faces its third consecutive year of drought and we must prepare for the worst – a fourth, fifth or even sixth year of drought," Schwarzenegger said. It's rained quite a bit since he uttered those words, either an ironic quirk of nature or a testament to the governor's persuasive powers.
The late winter rains may be a welcome, albeit partial, relief from the looming water crisis, but as Schwarzenegger also said on Feb. 27: "This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire, and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California's water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state."
<< snipped >>
Let's put that in perspective. At least a half-million acre-feet of water flowed past Sacramento in the first week after Schwarzenegger's drought declaration, half the capacity of Folsom Lake. But the most interesting aspect of that flow is that it didn't come from Folsom or the other two major dams on the Sacramento River system, Shasta and Oroville.
<< snipped >>
What happened in early March was a harbinger of what lies ahead for California if the theories about global warming prove true. We will get more of our precipitation in the form of rain and less in the form of snow, which means we will need more water storage capacity as the natural reservoir of the Sierra snowpack shrinks.
It's ironic that the folks who raise alarms about global warming are the same folks who oppose our preparing for its consequences.
