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> "Today, roughly 500,000 acres in and around Imperial County are cultivated with irrigation, with the bulk of the land devoted to growing alfalfa and other for

> "Today, roughly 500,000 acres in and around Imperial County are cultivated with irrigation, with the bulk of the land devoted to growing alfalfa and other forage that feeds California's dairy industry, the nation's largest." Looks like switching to desert-optimized crops that have historically been grown in the region is the only real long-term solution, plus a lot more drip-style irrigation: https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2205 https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2205 > "Heat-loving plants are best suited for summer production in desert climates. The plant families that fit into the heat-loving category are nightshade or Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) and squash or Cucurbitaceae (cucumbers, melons, summer and winter squash). Corn and beans also perform best in hot climates." One crop per year might also have to be the new norm if the Colorado River dams keep heading for dead pool.

rektide 4y ago
These people were given water rights in perpetuity. How many will ever correct, will drawn down their usage voluntarily? Does society have to pay them for this unearned gift we never had to give, that they were granted?
- midoridensha 4y ago
  Somehow I doubt the people given water rights in perpetuity are still alive today. At some point, governments should not be held liable for bad promises made centuries ago which simply can't be kept today.
  - rektide 4y ago
    If only it were so simple. Maybe it is. This feels like one of the most Lawful Evil, Imminate'ing the Escharon'ing ruinating region-murdering life-destroying things the USG has done, and which it continues to perpetuate. The idea that law must be upheld blindly at any cost, for law itself sake, for "stability" sake is so fallen. The furtherance of these grotesque rights is the use of law to end life, to ruin the country. The law was the mistake, is the instability, and it should not be honored, it's idea should not besmirch just & right laws. These should be rolled back in huge degree, with not a penny paid. But I have no idea how we do it. Instead we just wait for the rivers to go dry, wait for the end.

rektide 4y ago

These people were given water rights in perpetuity. How many will ever correct, will drawn down their usage voluntarily? Does society have to pay them for this unearned gift we never had to give, that they were granted?

midoridensha 4y ago
Somehow I doubt the people given water rights in perpetuity are still alive today. At some point, governments should not be held liable for bad promises made centuries ago which simply can't be kept today.
- rektide 4y ago
  If only it were so simple. Maybe it is. This feels like one of the most Lawful Evil, Imminate'ing the Escharon'ing ruinating region-murdering life-destroying things the USG has done, and which it continues to perpetuate. The idea that law must be upheld blindly at any cost, for law itself sake, for "stability" sake is so fallen. The furtherance of these grotesque rights is the use of law to end life, to ruin the country. The law was the mistake, is the instability, and it should not be honored, it's idea should not besmirch just & right laws. These should be rolled back in huge degree, with not a penny paid. But I have no idea how we do it. Instead we just wait for the rivers to go dry, wait for the end.