Guest post by Steven Goddard
One month ago, Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu warned of apocalyptic drought in California.
“We’re looking at a scenario where there’s no more agriculture in California.” And, he added, “I don’t actually see how they can keep their cities going” either.“
USA today warned :
Calif. facing worst drought in modern history
Almost immediately after Dr. Chu’s pronouncement, the rain and snow started in earnest. As of today, all California Snowtel stations report normal snow depth and water content, as do all stations in Colorado where California gets much of their water from.
The combination of the Gore Effect , the Hansen Effect, and the Chu Effect may just save us from climate Armageddon. People in the AGW camp commonly leverage the power of symbolism, like swimming Polar Bears. Below is some good symbolism from Kirkwood, California – taken yesterday.
Over eight feet of new snow earlier in the week at Kirkwood provides an incredible final stop of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding
http://www.crsportsnews.com/?id=786048&keys=Dewey-Baker-Kirkwood-Northface
BTW – Polar bears love to swim – when they are not terrified by Greenpeace helicopters flying overhead.
http://www.animalpicturegallery.net/animal-picture-polar-bear-swimming2-ucumari-animalpicture.jpg
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Maybe you should try find similar data for Spain, Italy and the drainage basins from the Alps and Black Forest?
They should look pretty healthy too. Ditto the Atlas mountains and the northern Algerian mountains.
The poor old Murray-Darling is still suffering though. Bad news there. They need what California’s just had to make it back to normality.
@RJ Hendrickson (23:04:54) :
“That wouldn’t do Los Angeles, the San Joaquin valley and points north any good at all. The Colorado River Aqueduct and All American Canal, which feed from the Colorado River, supply water to Southern California south of Los Angeles, not LA or the San Joaquin.”
I believe it would have great benefit. The benefit derives from using the additional Colorado River water in Southern California, and not having to pump water from Northern California over the Tehachapi mountains into Los Angeles. Also, the Colorado River aqueduct terminates in Lake Matthews, from which many water districts obtain water. That includes Los Angeles.
The water from Northern California would then be used as required for agriculture in the San Joaquin valley.
Here is a good article with photos.
http://fire.biol.wwu.edu/trent/alles/LowerColorado.pdf
@Jack Simmons (03:21:53) :
“Why hasn’t California built desalination plants?”
Environmental obstructionism is the primary reason. Also, just about the time the droughts get serious, we have sufficient snow and rain so that the problem “goes away” for a year or two.
http://energyguysmusings.blogspot.com/2009/02/california-water-shortage-drought-in.html
@Steven Goddard (06:07:18) :
“Roger Sowell,
The Colorado River doesn’t run through New Mexico. Water is currently pumped the other direction, from west to east, across the Continental Divide to supply the Front Range.
So what you are suggesting as a solution for California would probably become the basis of a water war with the Rocky Mountain states.”
Steven, I concur that there could be serious battles over water, which is why this NEWTAP project must have federal backing. Even then, the rights to water would be the basis for arguing and lawsuits.
And, you are correct that the Colorado River itself does not flow through New Mexico. However, tributaries do, and one of those is where the NEWTAP aqueduct would terminate.
Roger,
So what you are discussing is pumping huge amounts of Mississippi River water into the San Juan River? I can imagine all kinds of unpleasant side effects to the environment of the Grand Canyon bringing warm, polluted Mississippi water full of non-indigenous species into the region. Plus Arizona would probably just keep the water for themselves. ;^)
I can’t see environmentalists letting this happen.
Steven Goddard (10:47:12) :
The discharge point of NEWTAP would be chosen from several candidates, as I am sure there are many who would oppose any option.
The environmentalists will, as you suggest, be very opposed to this, as they are to everything.
But the limited water, and population growth in California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico all point to the need for additional fresh water.
When the need is sufficient, the water will be found. It may be from recycling toilet to tap, (eww….gross!), or desalination for California (but not for the other non-coastal states), or a gravity-driven aqueduct from British Columbia to California that follows the terrain downhill all the way, or towing icebergs from Alaska to Los Angeles. I have read proposals on all of those.
To me, the NEWTAP project makes the most sense. But it will not be easily won.
If (maybe when?) California’s agriculture does disappear due to lack of water, and all food prices in the U.S. jump by a large percent as a result, something will be done. NEWTAP appears to me to be a viable solution.
A couple of things to consider.
1. The non-native plant species Tamarisk has been estimated to suck enough water out of western rivers to supply 20 million people.
2. A huge percentage of western water usage is taxpayer subsidized water sold at pennies on the dollar, and used to grow corn for cattle feed. By eliminating those subsidies, there would be a lot more water available for people and beef consumers would start paying a fair price for what they are eating – instead of passing the cost on to other taxpayers.
@Jeff Coatney: no comment needed on gore; hansen is a grossly overrated old fart; chu is a more than respectable scientist in his field (got nobel prize for ultracold atomic gases) but this does not make him the everything-o-logist they make him out to be…