No Rain. . .

[Cudedog]

Well, this has got to be some kind of a record.

When I first moved to Northern California in 1979, first freeze would come mid-September, with a lot of rain. Rain would pretty much continue through October, November, January, February, March and peter out around the first part of April.

Having lived in this area for some 40 plus years, I can never remember not getting any rain in October. . . until this year. Dry as a bone. No rain thus far in October, maybe rain next week, beginning of November (at 50% chance, likely not gonna happen), maybe not. Nights are cooling down some to high 40's, days still topping out at mid-70's to low 80's.

The only blessing in all of this is that we have not - at least so far - had the terrible fires we have had here for the last several years. Although we have not yet had our annual (and normal) fall winds yet either. Extreme drought conditions coupled with high winds are never a good thing.

I am becoming more and more concerned about the water situation here. I haven't been watering my lawn during the warm months for the last couple of years, so although it greens up when it rains, just now it is mostly bare dirt with a couple of straggler Bermuda Grass patches here and there.

Looking up and down the block (and most places in my area) most everyone's lawn is green and pristine. I guess these people haven't heard about the drought. Maybe when farmers are forced to stop sowing and harvesting crops in my area (which, by the way, is already happening. . . I live in a heavily agricultural area) maybe people will begin to turn off the tap.

Or maybe not. . .

And people are wondering why the cost of food is rising. Pretty easy equation: farmers can't plant crops = food can't be harvested (because there is nothing to harvest).

Scary.

Anne

[SoCalGalcas]

Boy, I agree with you Annie. Water in San Diego is very expensive and going to become more expensive! Build, build, build more homes is all we hear from our city council. Rents are extremely high here. Many are subsidized to pay their water bills. Build more “low income” housing.
Where are we going to get water for all these new homes and how are these people going to afford it. It’s enough to drive thinking people crazy!!!
Lyn

[BarbaraRose]

Ann, I think people are just in denial about it all. Eventually when things get so bad and/or the cost of water goes way up, they might finally wake up.

I see the writing on the wall now. Electric is the other issue which will be causing major problems when there is no more water in Lake Mead to generate electricity (which is only a year or two from now). I want to be ahead of the game and get outta Dodge while I can.

[SoCalGalcas]

Lucky you, Barbie. I support yout plans. I, too, would get out of here except for all my kids, grand, and greats live here. And, think Kaiser is keeping me alive. Lyn

[MandysMom]

It's not just water stopping planting- the cost of fertilizer amd fuel for farm/ranch vehicles has skyrocketed , just like gas for your car have.
Velda

[Cudedog]

It's not just water stopping planting- the cost of fertilizer amd fuel for farm/ranch vehicles has skyrocketed , just like gas for your car have.

Velda

True enough.

But without sufficient water (California's central valley is the breadbasket of the nation), for irrigation (and rain), for livestock farming, for dryland pastures, for dairies, for orchards, for row crops. . . and etc. . . even if fuel and fertilizer were free (and we all know it isn't, not by a long shot) food isn't going to happen. Because it can't.

With enough available water (which there isn't, at least at the moment) for production of these commodities, the increased cost of fuel and fertilizer could be offset by rising the prices of these commodities. Thus food commodities would still be available, even if at a higher cost of production, and a higher cost to consumers.

Without sufficient water none of the things mentioned above can be grown. Thus no food - no commodities - are available to be sold.

Anne

[JudyJB]

I drove into Las Vegas today from Amargosa, which is northwest of the city. As I was driving through the western edges of the city, I could NOT believe how many new subdivisions are under construction. Ditto for commercial shopping centers and business parks. My immediate reaction was, "ARE THESE PEOPLE NUTS?"

How does a city that is almost out of water and electricity allow all this construction, which will mean more people moving in and more water and power needed?? It is absolutely crazy, and leads me to believe that all that really counts is profits from construction and more taxes coming in to municipalities.

Surely, they should not allow new construction of all these huge, fancy homes unless the builder can show where the water is coming from.

[BarbaraRose]

Judy, I agree! Makes no sense to keep building and getting more people living there using more water and power. Money is the big motivator there even if it means ignoring the obvious.