http://www.californiadroughtupdate.org/pdf/20170209-California-Drought-Update.pdf
This week marks a turning point in the California drought. For the first time in years less than half of the state remains in any of the drought categories. Forty-seven percent to be precise. And the rain and snow do not appear to be easing off, so we shall see in the coming weeks more progress out of the drought. But, as we continue to warn, and to put it bluntly, as I title a section of this report below, “It Will Never Be Over.” With the state’s population heading toward 50 million in the next decade or so, water will always be short, if not state-wide, at least in local areas.
This week’s report includes not only reportage on the weather, but also coverage of some of the damage from both the drought and the storms. The Oroville Dam on the Feather River has a very large hole ripped out of its spillway by the release of water to make room for more of it. A report from NASA on subsidence is also included in this week’s report.
The California drought has brought to the fore not only this state’s near 45 year gap of building no significant water infrastructure, but highlights the nation’s similar absence from the task. As the American Society of Civil Engineers have reported for years, the infrastructure deficit for the nation is over $3 trillion and growing. The Chinese estimate that the U.S. needs about a $8 trillion investment in infrastructure. All this yet still ignores the fundamental principle that for any society to progress requires not just adequate transportation, energy, water, etc. structures and institutions, but unless there is a focus, a mission, to uplift the physical productivity of the economy as a whole to a new and more advanced platform, then the admonition by President Kennedy, quoted above, cannot be fulfilled. That means the nation must have a focused mission to explore the frontiers of science and technology, especially fusion power and space exploration. As we know from the Apollo Program, it is such a focus that drives all technology and progress forward at the most rapid rate.
I reported last week on some of the noise being reported about President Trump’s wish to build infrastructure. There continues to be commentary and speculation on the topic. The “Feature” this week underlines the principle of our Constitution that it is the responsibility and the duty of the U.S. government to lead the nation to that higher platform of productivity and power. Unless the step by step restructuring of the economic and financial system is carried out in exactly the manner as outlined by Lyndon LaRouche’s “Four Laws,” then all discussion and action on building infrastructure will fail. Even some others recognize that what the President’s team has so far proposed will not work. See, “Trump team’s infrastructure plan has some big gaps.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-teams-infrastructure-plan-has-some-big-gaps/. A grab bag wish list approach may fix a few pot holes and ease traffic somewhere, but will never create the kind of leap in productivity required for tomorrow. Here is an example of such a wish list: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article131145979.html
