Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Harvest the Grapes and Hold On

California Reservoir Conditions
The new "Water Year" started October 1st.  It is interesting to watch the real time evolution of California's water supply condition.  A few years ago the state water agency killed hundreds of thousand of acres in the Central Valley with extreme restrictions on supply.  Not "crops" but orchards and vineyards.  It wasn't necessary except as a lever to exert political will.  A show of force.  You can drive the lesser used roads Bakersfield to Sacramento and see thousands of signs; "CA killed this land."

This year is already on track to be a very good year.  The phrase "Atmospheric River" may be unfamiliar but "Pineapple Express" is not.  Seven, fifteen, even twenty inches of precipitation may be dumped by a trio of low pressure systems pulling moisture from the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.  Thus the "Pineapple" nomenclature.

We should consider buying Tom Stone a poncho to keep his chartreuse print aloha shirt from bleeding out and staining his argyle socks and Birkenstocks sandals all over the client's imported Italian oak laminate.

12 comments:

Cinco-X said...

Would the acres killed by CA sustain avocado orchards without irrigation? Some, perhaps many of the CV farming practices are no where near sustainable with current practices...Cotton! WTF?

Rob Dawg said...

The "Central Valley Bible Belt" as JD likes to call it is not avocados or most citrus. Peaches, apricots, nuts, and the like. along with lots and lots of row crops and grains.

You are correct to point out the horrible wastefulness of growing cotton.

The point is still that CV farmers are being denied water rights (they are rights) for reasons having nothing to do with water being available or not.

Cinco-X said...

Rob Dawg said... The point is still that CV farmers are being denied water rights (they are rights) for reasons having nothing to do with water being available or not.

Hmmm..I wonder if it has anything to do with the :redteam: politics of the CV[BB] versus the dominant :blueteam: nature of CA politics as a whole...

Rob Dawg said...

The CV[BB] is "contained" politically. No reason to exact tribute. A couple of congressional seats is nothing in the big scheme.

I honestly don't know why "we" are trying to destroy an economic engine so vital. Then again I don't know why "we" are also driving away small businesses and job creation.

There is another layer of intrigue you are not aware of. "They" need a new massive water project. On the order of the high speed rail price tag. Denied for decades, "they" are manufacturing a crisis. Will it work? I hope not but but suspect so. After all Prop 30 passed.

Cinco-X said...

"Rob Dawg said...There is another layer of intrigue you are not aware of. "They" need a new massive water project. On the order of the high speed rail price tag. Denied for decades, "they" are manufacturing a crisis."

If I had to choose between high speed rail and a safe secure water supply for that area, I know what "I'd" choose...

sm_landlord said...

http://247wallst.com/2012/11/27/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-a-survey-of-all-50/

Guess which state is the worst run state in the country?

Unknown said...

Dawg, I'll have you know my socks are color coordinated! well, matchinganyway. Most days. And Birkies are for freaking hippies. We did have one real nice cloudburst this morning, instant flooding. Close to an inch in a couple of minutes. I'm doing "Cowboy" today. Snakeskin boots, jeans and a colorful cowboy shirt with the shiny buttons. Flat crowned black Stetson and a sheepskin jacket. Yeehaw! No snoose or redman, there are limits.

Cinco-X said...

?Thomas Stone said...I'm doing "Cowboy" today. Snakeskin boots, jeans and a colorful cowboy shirt with the shiny buttons. Flat crowned black Stetson and a sheepskin jacket. Yeehaw!"

Ditch the jeans for leather chaps and you might pass for Broward...

Unknown said...

Cinco, I actually still have my old motorcycle pants and can still get in them even though my waist has ballooned to 31 inches. I found Broward quite an interesting fellow. I wonder if that 50 shades book has made it easier for him?

TJandTheBear said...

Tom, does that include holster & six-gun?

Passed San Luis on our trip back down the coast; huge reservoir, not much water.

w said...

And yet our water district expects yearly increases into the forseeable future to pay for the portion of water we get from MWD of SoCA.

In the last 4 years we have gone from $340 per acre/ft to $800. Expecting ~7% increases every year.

Of course the MWD charges excessive rates to its customers so it can send $75,000,000 a year to the City of LA for it's general fund. This TAX on consumers gives them complete control of the City government and near autonomy.

sm_landlord said...

More bad news in Muniland:

http://blogs.reuters.com/muniland/2012/11/28/the-other-fiscal-cliff/

(Wish there was a way to make links hot here...)