Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in California on Wednesday, citing below-average rainfall and court-ordered water restrictions meant to protect wild fish as the leading causes of the short supply of water this summer. The Gov issued an executive order to speed the transfer of water to areas that need it the most, boost conservation efforts in other parts of the state, and to assist farmers. Here’s more from the L.A. Times article:
The governor stopped short of declaring a water emergency. Administration officials say Wednesday’s move is a first step, putting Californians on notice that large-scale rationing could be coming if the situation does not improve. Some areas of the state are more vulnerable than others.
The governor said his proclamation adds urgency to a proposal he has been pushing for years to borrow $11.9 billion for new water projects such as reservoirs, river restoration and water-quality improvement. Schwarzenegger would like the Legislature to put such a plan on the November ballot, but lawmakers have balked amid opposition from environmentalists, who argue that new reservoirs threaten wildlife and fish habitats. [L.A. Times]
State Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow has also blamed odd weather patterns, possibly related to global warming, for the drought. Snow indicated that the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which accounts for a major portion of the state’s water supply, was down to 67% of normal in May. Unusually warm weather during the spring caused the snow to melt quickly, and much has evaporated rather than running downstream into reservoirs.
For more on this developing story, check out the links below. You can also takepart by following these top 10 suggestions for conserving the most water possible.
Related:
ENS: Dry California Officially in a State of Drought
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19 posts in the last 24 hours
[...] Schwarzenegger Declares Drought in California [...]
TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup! | TakePart Blog Network June 6, 2008 | 1:49 pm ESTIt is really hard to take a water shortage story seriously while golf courses are still green.
Not Soandso130 golf courses in the Palms Springs area alone using a million gallons plus of water per day each, while farmers are cutting down fruit trees and not planting food crops in other areas of the state??. The price of our food items will continue to rise dramatically as well as our water. Why not put artificial turf on the golf courses and get our priorities right. I can’t wait to watch the seniors marching with their putters in their hands in protest when the golf course water is shut off completely. Consider a de-salination plant like Santa Barbara built.
Men are fighting for oil while our water is being used and abused by big business.
Is our non-polluted water scarce?
I wonder why?
Note to Not:
lora brunckeI agree. Man’s hybrid lawn grass sucks! Big business sold us a shaft!!
Secret water diverting. After Fresno Mayor Alan Autry’s Dept. of Public Works was caught conspiring with WGS, a former employee in one of the most heinous and barbaric operations in history, he had them issue a R.O. against me - committing perjury to discredit the city’s own sewer layout, which verifies EXACTLY what is taking place. Death threats followed if I continue to report this. What’s new. I learned first hand how residents are being annihilated in order to carry this out. Also keep in mind I was previously employed by WGS - for 25 yrs I heard him talk of secretly diverting the water supply for future development but until he and the Dept. of Public Works were caught in action, I did not believe it.
MarlaBELIEVE IT!
Innocent residents of Fresno, CA are being annihilated in order to secretly divert the water supply. Dept. of Public Works conspiring with a former employee in using heinous and barbaric methods to vacate property in order to pull this off. Followed by trail of ID theft, forged deeds of people never seen again, altered legal documents, suspected homicide.
Plat/parcel maps altered to cover up the evidence of what is taking place; sewer layouts and info from Fresno Flood Control verify exactly what they are doing. City of Fresno filed a RO against me - death threats followed if I continue to report this.
Reporting the accompanying real estate fraud, real estate theft and suspected homicide resulted in the DA’s office blocking my email address; same with court administration. Because it all goes hand-in-hand.
So while Mayor Autry is busy performing his so-called “concern” over our water shortage, perhaps an investigation into the trails of his 2 Fresno ringleaders would be of interest:
http://fresnorealestatefraudtheft.blogspot.com/2008/07/local-agencies-city-and-county-actually.html
http://marlalk.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/infections-amputations-behind-city-cover-up/
Marla