Crisis In California:
Drought & Water Conservation
Liam Fleet
Ben Gomez
Rachel Hadley
Judith Hawley
California State University San Marcos
Dr. Dabb - Environmental Studies
May 1, 2015
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Current Status of Drought 2
The Natural Water Cycle 4
Conservation & Sustainability 6 Agricultural Considerations 8
Conclusion 9
Citations 10
Group Member Contributions 12 Introduction Drought in California is not a new topic; in fact California has quite a bit of experience
…show more content…
By the early 1920’s the farmers mainly relied upon small storages of water for their farms, just enough to last them through the dry years. When the 1924 drought hit, farmers found themselves in a pretty bad place. The severe lack of available water established the obvious need for better water distribution systems necessary to continue California’s agricultural business operations. When the Dust Bowl hit, caused by a subsequent drought that lasted from 1928 to 1935, then again arose the need for more water storage and improved distribution services. Ultimately, this convinced the federal government to fund the Central Valley Project, which established a system of distribution canals, pipes and aqueducts (A History Of Drought in California, …show more content…
This is where the biggest changes need to happen. However, not enough attention is being brought to the agriculture specifically. With agriculture being 80% of water usage in California, it is clear that small changes can make a big difference in this area. As of right now there is little or no regulation of agricultural water usage. Much of the water used for agriculture is being wasted through improper use and distribution.
When it comes to the amount of water consumed by the agricultural sector and it’s exemption from Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order for 25% cutbacks, there has been a considerable amount of backlash. Governor Brown defends his position and was quoted by The Washington Post as stating, “They’re providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America to a significant part of the world” (2015). Whether consumers agree or not with Governor Brown on how to best conserve water and prevent any further drought, they cannot deny that conservation is necessary for future