Calif water deal no quick fix for struggling farms

[XemaSab]

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was promoting a complex legislative package to rebuild California's water system, he often appeared alongside farmers who were unable to cultivate their land amid a third year of drought and federal pumping restrictions.

Yet agricultural relief from the bills signed into law by Schwarzenegger will not be immediate, meaning the state that grows half the nation's fruit, vegetables and nuts will face a repeat of this year's tough times unless the winter brings epic rain and snowfall.

Most of the reforms included in the legislation won't produce measurable results for years, and the projects funded through an $11.1 billion water bond are far from getting started — and that's assuming voters pass the spending measure in November 2010.

"We'll be all gone by the time it gets implemented," said Bill Koster, whose family has farmed in the Central Valley for 129 years. "If we have another drought year, we're toast. Forget it, we're done."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jq2YgMKFwPno2WIvmr4oOr1uZNCwD9BUH5DO2

[Ozymanithrax]

1. There simply isn't enough water, unless we get really creative with...

deslaination plants, or some other scheme. (In the late 80's they were talking about creating a pipeline from Alaska to bring water to California.) The US may need to develop a system to pump water from places it is pleantiful to other areas.

But it will be expensive.

[kristopher]

2. There is plenty of water.

The problem is too many people insist on trying to live in a particular location.

[NNadir]

4. Really? Plenty of water?

Sometimes I think you must be trying to be dumb, since I really don't believe anyone could really be that dumb.

Just out of curiousity, to where do dumb fundies want to move the population of California?

That ethanol heaven on the Ogallala acquifier, Nebraska?

Just when you think that the anti-nuke cults couldn't be more stupid, they go ahead and prove you wrong.

[XemaSab]

5. The Kea is right

There would be plenty of water to go around if those assholes in Red Bluff didn't insist on what isn't theirs. x(

[kristopher]

7. Take your pick - just move east

It would also be a good idea to reduce the amount of thermal generation we depend on for our electricity.

http://www.iea.org/work/2009/rewp_water/Young.pdf

Lots of pictures so that even you might at least get the gist.

[Nederland]

6. I know where we can get some...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33918160/ns/technology_and_science-space/

[Kaleva]

3. Irrigation farming in that region wasn't sustainable.

And that's been known for a long time. However, no one had the will or desire to plan for this in an orderly way.