2 ms·

I've posted about this on here before but the remaining 89% actually isn't just agriculture, though that is a Californians favorite scarecrow. https://en.wikip

by kodah 4y ago

I've posted about this on here before but the remaining 89% actually isn't just agriculture, though that is a Californians favorite scarecrow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_in_California#Uses_of_water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_in_California#Uses_of_wa... > Water use in California is divided into approximately 51% for environmental uses, 39% agricultural use and 11% urban uses, though that varies considerably between regions and between wet and dry years.

DANK_YACHT 4y ago
"Environmental" uses seems to mean they're just allowing the water to run naturally to maintain the environment. (This is the source Wikipedia cites: https://www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california/ https://www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california/). It's funny that they call that a use of water in California. If you remove that, then yes, agriculture uses 80% of the water.
- kodah 4y ago
  Actually, it's more convoluted than that: Water that naturally flows into the state’s “wild and scenic” rivers, which are not connected to the state’s water system and can’t be under state and federal protections Water required for maintaining fish and wildlife habitat within streams Water that supports wetlands within wildlife preserves Water needed to maintain water quality for agricultural and urban use https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/drought/sdut-sacramento-drought-california-environment-water-2015apr17-story.html https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/drought/sdut-sacra... I'm unable to tell whether that's a tally for untapped water or if it's really meant to account for something meaningful. The CFB does say that ag accounts for 80% of "human use".
coolsunglasses 4y ago
I tried reading the wiki article and couldn't find an answer. Could someone explain to me what "environmental uses" is?
- ncmncm 4y ago
  https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-biggest-potential-water-disaster-in-the-united-states https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-biggest-potentia...

by kodah 4y ago

DANK_YACHT 4y ago

"Environmental" uses seems to mean they're just allowing the water to run naturally to maintain the environment. (This is the source Wikipedia cites: https://www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california/ https://www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california/). It's funny that they call that a use of water in California. If you remove that, then yes, agriculture uses 80% of the water.

kodah 4y ago
Actually, it's more convoluted than that: Water that naturally flows into the state’s “wild and scenic” rivers, which are not connected to the state’s water system and can’t be under state and federal protections Water required for maintaining fish and wildlife habitat within streams Water that supports wetlands within wildlife preserves Water needed to maintain water quality for agricultural and urban use https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/drought/sdut-sacramento-drought-california-environment-water-2015apr17-story.html https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/drought/sdut-sacra... I'm unable to tell whether that's a tally for untapped water or if it's really meant to account for something meaningful. The CFB does say that ag accounts for 80% of "human use".

coolsunglasses 4y ago

I tried reading the wiki article and couldn't find an answer. Could someone explain to me what "environmental uses" is?

ncmncm 4y ago
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-biggest-potential-water-disaster-in-the-united-states https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-biggest-potentia...