4 ms·

This is absolutely one of the easiest things California can do to help mitigate (even so slightly) the complete disaster that is the Colorado River Compact. I 1

This is absolutely one of the easiest things California can do to help mitigate (even so slightly) the complete disaster that is the Colorado River Compact. I 100% support California using all the water they can coming from their own mountains and runoff. The Colorado River Basin needs to stop servicing so much agriculture (in general, especially in California) and this is a fantastic way to help mitigate it. Such an easy solution, targeted directly and used locally right at the point of site of the farmer. Hopefully the underground aquifers can start filling back up too, not just the reservoirs like Tahoe. That's where a lot of the other agriculture water comes from, being pumped up out of the ground. Unfortunately, it takes years of consistent water to refill the underground stores.

anonuser123456 4y ago
>Unfortunately, it takes years of consistent water to refill the underground stores. It's worse than this. Some of California's Central Valley aquifers are porous clay. When you drain it beyond a certain point, the clay collapses and cannot be refilled.
- taftster 4y ago
  That's interesting, didn't understand that, thank you. Complete anecdote, I have a relative in California whose well has ran dry. They are trying to find the money and motivation to dig a new well, but it's a dilemma, like if the next well runs dry in a few years too. The California water situation is really scary right now, even with the high levels of reservoirs mentioned in the article. Those high levels and recent storms are likely going to quell the urgency of the discussion, which is maybe the most unfortunate thing to come from all of the recent weather.
  - bsder 4y ago
    > The California water situation is really scary right now The California Central Valley water situation is scary. It's Easter Island playing out in real time--the agribusinesses will continue sucking everything up until it finally hits the wall and collapses. Desalinization will cover the people near the coasts.
    - tsuujin 4y ago
      Central Valley resident here, it is indeed quite bad.
  - anonuser123456 4y ago
    It’s not that bad. Israel shows is that you can grow crops efficiently with low water. Pistachios will probably go away. Beef will get more expensive. Rock and astroturf will replace lawns. The real problem is the social strife from all the incumbents that believe somehow they are entitled to not adapting.
csdvrx 4y ago
> Unfortunately, it takes years of consistent water to refill the underground stores. What about filling the underground aquifers faster by digging a hole to connect a pipe to the aquifer then pressure-pumping water into it?
iancmceachern 4y ago
Tahoe isn't a reservoir
- AnimalMuppet 4y ago
  Lake Tahoe actually has a small dam. If I did the numbers right, the spillway is only 6 feet above what the natural outlet was.

anonuser123456 4y ago

>Unfortunately, it takes years of consistent water to refill the underground stores. It's worse than this. Some of California's Central Valley aquifers are porous clay. When you drain it beyond a certain point, the clay collapses and cannot be refilled.

taftster 4y ago
That's interesting, didn't understand that, thank you. Complete anecdote, I have a relative in California whose well has ran dry. They are trying to find the money and motivation to dig a new well, but it's a dilemma, like if the next well runs dry in a few years too. The California water situation is really scary right now, even with the high levels of reservoirs mentioned in the article. Those high levels and recent storms are likely going to quell the urgency of the discussion, which is maybe the most unfortunate thing to come from all of the recent weather.
- bsder 4y ago
  > The California water situation is really scary right now The California Central Valley water situation is scary. It's Easter Island playing out in real time--the agribusinesses will continue sucking everything up until it finally hits the wall and collapses. Desalinization will cover the people near the coasts.
  - tsuujin 4y ago
    Central Valley resident here, it is indeed quite bad.
- anonuser123456 4y ago
  It’s not that bad. Israel shows is that you can grow crops efficiently with low water. Pistachios will probably go away. Beef will get more expensive. Rock and astroturf will replace lawns. The real problem is the social strife from all the incumbents that believe somehow they are entitled to not adapting.

csdvrx 4y ago

> Unfortunately, it takes years of consistent water to refill the underground stores. What about filling the underground aquifers faster by digging a hole to connect a pipe to the aquifer then pressure-pumping water into it?

iancmceachern 4y ago

Tahoe isn't a reservoir

AnimalMuppet 4y ago
Lake Tahoe actually has a small dam. If I did the numbers right, the spillway is only 6 feet above what the natural outlet was.