I read several articles yesterday about Gov. Brown's Executive Order regarding water restrictions for California. The restrictions included:
For the first time in state history, the Governor has directed the State Water Resources Control Board to implement mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent. This savings amounts to approximately 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months, or nearly as much as is currently in Lake Oroville.
To save more water now, the order will also:
- Replace 50 million square feet of lawns throughout the state with drought tolerant landscaping in partnership with local governments;
- Direct the creation of a temporary, statewide consumer rebate program to replace old appliances with more water and energy efficient models;
- Require campuses, golf courses, cemeteries and other large landscapes to make significant cuts in water use; and
- Prohibit new homes and developments from irrigating with potable water unless water-efficient drip irrigation systems are used, and ban watering of ornamental grass on public street medians.
What I find interesting is that agriculture in California uses 80% of the water annually. His restrictions listed above aren't going to make a bit of difference in the short or long run as they actually apply to part of the remaining 20% of water users.
There was an interesting article, yesterday that I can't find today that addressed the issue of subsidence and over drawing water from the aquifers for drought relief. I did find another article that really was well written and published by the San Jose Mercury News on March 29, 2014. The COMMENTS are as informative as the article.
http://www.mercurynews.com/dro...
I kind of liked this article because it put human faces to the issue.
