Today's customer question is: How will California's drought crisis affect you?
Pictured below: Lake Nacimiento March 2009
As many of you may already know, the Governor of California has declared a state of emergency. This is the third year that CA has been significantly short of rainfall and snowpack, parching inland grazing land and affecting the state's supply of natural water resources. University of California economists estimate that the state will lose 40,000 agriculture-related jobs—without water, livestock operations will have to reduce production, many older 'hardwood' plantings (fruit and nut orchards, cane berry crops) will be torn out, and our 'salad bowl' crops like greens, celery, tomatoes—all of which are very dependent on irrigation—will also have to be reduced. The beef and dairy industries have been particularly hard hit, between a 70% reduction of CA range grass, and the higher fuel costs of 2008—many cattle operations truck their livestock to states or regions where pasture is available, and then to the mid-West for stock sales. And once a herd has been reduced, it takes years to re-establish.
The San Joaquin Valley, a warm inland region whose top ag industries include raisin grapes, almonds, dairy and beef, calves for resale, pork, cotton, peaches, and tomatoes has suffered the most and over 20,000 acres of land prevoiusly planted to row crops have gone unplanted or simply abandoned. Also in 2008, a lawsuit based on the Endangered Species Act prompted a federal judge to order a severe reduction of pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which supplies water to the 450-mile long California aqueduct. The order reduced water supply to inland and southern California communities, ranches and farms by 75%! Losses to California farm industries were pegged at $308 million by 2008, and are increasing this year as more and more reductions take place. The state is losing product, revenue, businesses and jobs along with its water.
Fire hazard is also an issue of concern. As rangeland and forests dry up, fires become increasingly more likely to happen, and more dangerous. Many of our coastal forests have eucalyptus and bay, which are high in oils, and the inland and mountain forests have evergreens like fir and pine. State reservoirs (check out the cool reservoir map) where CDF planes fill up are at 30-50% of capacity. Lake Nacimiento, our local reservoir, is at 26% capacity.
Of the $380 million in losses caused by drought, vineyards and orchards account for only $600,000. Winegrape vineyards in particular require less irrigation than most other crops, as they have smaller berries and many growers reduce crop levels in order to increase flavor, pigment and quality. Our coastal region also has calcareous soils (limestone and limestone precursors) and the calcaire has an ability to wick moisture up from underground water layers. Still, the reduction of underground aquifers has many growers worried about their well usage.
We've been asked a few times how water rationing will affect the vineyards—it won't. You see, vineyards are not on city water systems. In our region, vineyards have their own wells. Some wells tap into an exclusive water pocket, but some vineyard wells share an underground aquifer with other vineyards and homes. In this case, competitive water issues may become a problem.
Part of our vineyard is syrah, trellised and 'stress-irrigated'. That means we have drip lines installed, but we rarely water the vines, mainly only a gallon per vine just before severe heat spikes—this keeps the vines hydrated and cool, they can continue to transpire which keeps the plant cool and nutrients flowing. Our zinfandel and our walnut orchard are dryfarmed. No irrigation is installed, and the plants rely on natural ground moisture. The zinfandel is also headpruned low to the ground which gives the fruit and the trunk a 360° shade canopy.
To date, our vineyard has received only 9 inches of rain over the winter. Ordinarily we would get 22-24 inches. Because our vineyard needs very little water, I am sure it will weather this third year of drought in fine condition. Dan and I, however, may need to go without daily showers...
Pictured below: A closeup of the area pictured above shows an abandoned rope swing where my son and his friends used to swim.
Update: Friday, June 19
Check out this post for an update--I've added last night's discussion of this topic on Fox News: "Fish Don't Vote!"
Posted by: Mary Baker | June 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM