(With expanded coverage of all the Western States)
by Patrick Ruckert
www.californiadroughtupdate.org/20231130-California-Water-and-Infrastructure-Report.pdf
A Note to Readers
There are some interesting developments this week in the area of water policy, debate, and, of course, political conflict over the same.
But, we begin with the U.S. Drought Monitor map, and, as expected, California is for now drought free.
The first article is well summarized by the first two sentences:
“A proposed northern California anti-ag measure could have an effect nationwide. The measure in Sonoma County would eliminate animal agriculture in that county.
“‘It would outlaw all animal agriculture in the county. That would affect dairies that would affect poultry operations,’ said Director of Political Affairs with the California Farm Bureau, Steven Fenaroli, who explained those are two of the biggest animal ag industries in the county.”
As Governor Newsom would say in response to his critics, “What do you mean I am anti-growth?” We must concede he did put the Sites Reservoir on the fast track for approval and the beginning of construction– next year. Amazing.
On the Colorado River, new forecasts and real evidence show that Lake Mead’s level is falling once again, and may reach its lowest level even in 2025.
The Rocky Mountains, which provides the snow and run-off to feed the river, so far has a well-below average snowpack for this time of the year.
The final article in this section, “Colorado River deal opens cash spigot for big farms,” appears, to be another case like that when Mark Twain, after having read his own obituary, remarked, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The article, after three pages of exposing how some farmers will get more money from the Biden administration for conserving water, then concludes, that the price of water in the west is rising anyway.
There are new developments, mostly negative for the Silicon Valley billionaires attempting to take over Solano County. The reports I include have some humorous moments, and the poor Silicon Valley representatives are definitely not smiling.
“Do 70,000 People Really Need to Be at a Climate Confab?” is the title of several articles under the final section of the report this week: “Having Fun Mocking the Global Climate Change Hysterics.”
