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California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

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11–20 of 193 posts

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#11
These droughts were anticipated, but here in California preparing for climate change means preaching at others, and setting up a carbon exchange. Not a single new reservoir has been built since 1979. It's impossible to take California seriously about much of anything, but especially not regarding the environment:

"In 1979, California’s population was a little more than 23 million. Today, it is more than 39 million. Yet in that entire time, California did not construct one additional, large-scale water storage project – meaning water infrastructure that once suited the state’s irrigation, livestock, and human needs has become chronically inadequate to meet its essential tasks."

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/another-california-dro...

Not only does the state not prepare, but thanks to the record-setting wildfires of the past decade, the amount of carbon and soot pumped into the air has probably offset any gains that had been made. They're really just stupid out here.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#12
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would love having some neighbours from California in my summer house… Well, you're in luck. It won't just be Californians, though. You'll have new neighbors pouring in from all over the world, cramming up in the liveable spaces that'll be left. It's gonna be cozy. And who knows, maybe you'll even have to spare a room or two of your house for them? Just as Germans had to when the refugees from the former eastern t…

I was thinking more about exchanging gardening tips and salads. But please come over there is a lot of space from Vistula River to Ural and beyond… (we are rapidly depopulating) Just drop the doom and Millenarian attitude… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism

[deleted]

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#13
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would love having some neighbours from California in my summer house… Well, you're in luck. It won't just be Californians, though. You'll have new neighbors pouring in from all over the world, cramming up in the liveable spaces that'll be left. It's gonna be cozy. And who knows, maybe you'll even have to spare a room or two of your house for them? Just as Germans had to when the refugees from the former eastern t…

Doesn't sound likely. You will be able to settle tens of millions of refugees in Greenland, Siberia etc. Former frozen wasteland will become habitable. I don't think Europe or the U.S will volunteer to absorb tens of millions of refugees if there are other solutions.

> I don't think Europe or the U.S will volunteer to absorb tens of millions of refugees if there are other solutions.

Who said anything about volunteering? Europe couldn't stop ~1 million people from entering in 2015, so what makes you think they can stop 50 to 100 times that number?

> Greenland, Siberia etc. Former frozen wasteland will become habitable

"Billions of Acres of Cropland Lie Within a New Frontier. So Do 100 Years of Carbon Emissions: Crops grown on this land could feed a growing population. But if these soils are plowed, they could unleash as much carbon as the U.S. emits in more than a century." https://insideclimatenews.org/news/12022020/agricultural-fro...

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#14

I don’t live in California but my state is experiencing the same. I love to garden, but summer has just become the dry season here, so it is pointless. You can irrigate, but the vapor-pressure deficit (VPD) when it is 100 degrees and 20% humidity makes plant growth almost impossible for anything but cacti. I think I’ll just have to move. https://www.dimluxlighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Le...

Try using a biodegradable hydrogel at the base of the roots.

Changing up the crop would probably be a good idea, either early and late crops or heat-adapted summer stuff.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#15
post #11

These droughts were anticipated, but here in California preparing for climate change means preaching at others, and setting up a carbon exchange. Not a single new reservoir has been built since 1979. It's impossible to take California seriously about much of anything, but especially not regarding the environment: "In 1979, California’s population was a little more than 23 million. Today, it is more than 39 million. Y…

Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up?

The fact is that California's urban water use has been declining since 1976, in absolute terms, not just in per-capita terms. The East Bay Municipal Utility District, for example, now only delivers half the water it delivered in 1976, despite the fact that the population in its service area has increased by 50% over that period. Conservation and efficiency are outpacing population growth. EBMUD now owns double the reservoir capacity it actually needs.

People who advocate for new reservoirs in California, especially people who advocate for it in East Coast editorial magazines, are representing the interests of agriculture megabusinesses who want to rip off the tax payers some more. Don't believe them.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#16
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would love having some neighbours from California in my summer house… Well, you're in luck. It won't just be Californians, though. You'll have new neighbors pouring in from all over the world, cramming up in the liveable spaces that'll be left. It's gonna be cozy. And who knows, maybe you'll even have to spare a room or two of your house for them? Just as Germans had to when the refugees from the former eastern t…

I was thinking more about exchanging gardening tips and salads. But please come over there is a lot of space from Vistula River to Ural and beyond… (we are rapidly depopulating) Just drop the doom and Millenarian attitude… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism

> Just drop the doom and Millenarian attitude…

Not sure if you and I read the same IPCC report, tbh.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#17
post #15
post #11

These droughts were anticipated, but here in California preparing for climate change means preaching at others, and setting up a carbon exchange. Not a single new reservoir has been built since 1979. It's impossible to take California seriously about much of anything, but especially not regarding the environment: "In 1979, California’s population was a little more than 23 million. Today, it is more than 39 million. Y…

Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up? The fact is that California's urban water use has been declining since 1976, in absolute terms, not just in per-capita terms. The East Bay Municipal Utility District, for example, now only delivers half the water it delivered in 1976, despite the fact that the population in its service area has increased by 50% over that period. Conservation and efficienc…

"Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up?"

A serious question? More water in reserve = more water in reserve.

If you fill 4 glasses with water now, and then then EBMUD turns the water off for the rest of the day due to a broken main (I know EBMUD really well), you'll have 4 more glasses of water to drink than you would have, otherwise. Simple math, really.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#18
Anyone worrying about what you can regarding climate change, it's nice to stop driving etc but the big issue is fossil fuel consumption. That's in the hands of big money. How that changes is another story but they've been clever to put the blame on domestic, urban consumers when we're a tiny minority of the polluters. Knowing that should help those keen to help out know better where to look.

In the meantime, no or little meat and flying is the best you can do.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#19
post #15
post #11

These droughts were anticipated, but here in California preparing for climate change means preaching at others, and setting up a carbon exchange. Not a single new reservoir has been built since 1979. It's impossible to take California seriously about much of anything, but especially not regarding the environment: "In 1979, California’s population was a little more than 23 million. Today, it is more than 39 million. Y…

Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up? The fact is that California's urban water use has been declining since 1976, in absolute terms, not just in per-capita terms. The East Bay Municipal Utility District, for example, now only delivers half the water it delivered in 1976, despite the fact that the population in its service area has increased by 50% over that period. Conservation and efficienc…

> Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up?

I’m not an expert, but presumably the reservoirs are empty because too many people were drawing on them (too much load per unit capacity). Increasing the reservoirs spreads the load across greater capacity.

But in general California (and much of the rest of the country) needs to stop it’s unsustainable agriculture practices.

Re: California's dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

#20
post #17
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up? The fact is that California's urban water use has been declining since 1976, in absolute terms, not just in per-capita terms. The East Bay Municipal Utility District, for example, now only delivers half the water it delivered in 1976, despite the fact that the population in its service area has increased by 50% over that period. Conservation and efficienc…

"Our reservoirs are empty. Why would another reservoir help up?" A serious question? More water in reserve = more water in reserve. If you fill 4 glasses with water now, and then then EBMUD turns the water off for the rest of the day due to a broken main (I know EBMUD really well), you'll have 4 more glasses of water to drink than you would have, otherwise. Simple math, really.

OP's point is that you have two glasses now, which are empty. Another two to make four and you'll have four empty glasses.

You need to address the reason why they're empty. You said you know the system well, so do you mind explaining?

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