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The Current drought and water Politics in California
California currently is in a devastating state of drought crisis. The current situation faces the entire state, which enormously influences the economic income negatively due to the impact in the agricultural sector. Drought refers when the average precipitation level is lower than normal, leading to scarcity of water supply for a long period. The country has experienced a long dry season for the past two years becoming one of the driest and warmest regions across the world.This condition has greatly contributed by a number of factors that directly affect water availability. One question that comes up is what are the confounding factors of the drought disaster? This question arises due to the unbearable state facing the country. It triggers reasoning in coming with a framework of resolving and offering new workable plan to combat the predicament.
It is of great concern that water crisis is becoming a major issue and needs serious attention across the board. Recent research conducted revealed that drought had a huge economic impact on the country and assessment done on the accessibility of water for agricultural purposes. This facilitates to an in depth survey in establishing of state and local water projects to aid in confronting the exaggerated drought within the country. To do this, there are several objectives, for consideration in realization of the agenda. There are also several model approaches used in assessing the economic impact created by the drought such as the use of data from irrigation survey programs and information from public sources.
This paper aims at addressing the current drought state and associated water politics in the state of California by use of a variety of approaches. The condition incites an address in terms of the confounding factors to water disaster, the statewide economic impacts of drought, the possible solutions to embrace and reflection of the study in respect to the matter at hand.
Factors that contribute to drought
Several factors contribute to drought and water shortage. Firstly, drought is because the water reservoirs providing most of California’s water have lower levels than normal. Climatic change is another factor contributing to drought (Daniel 10). Climatic change affects California in two different ways: firstly, reduction in rain due to temperature rise and change in atmospheric patterns. A third of California’s water comes from the snowpack. The snowpack levels have reduced because of warm temperatures.
Low precipitation rates contributes to warm climatic conditions in California, Global warming has caused increase in drought levels due to this precipitation (Mann Michael and Gleick Peter 7). Global warming causes drought in that it converts snow into rain, the rain eventually dries out the soil
Another cause of drought in California is that, there is increase in ground water withdrawal (Seager Richard, Hoerling Martin, Hailang Wang, Lyon Bradfield, Kumar Arun and Nakamura
Jennifer 10). The low precipitation rates contributes to dry soil and crops dry, people lack water supply for their crops and their daily lives, they opt to use the ground water. The ground water reduces, hence more suffering because of increased water scarcity. This affects business people and farmers because they lack water for survival.
Westerly air currents have contributed largely to change in weather conditions leading to drought.
A major factor leading to drought is increased evaporation of water bodies (Seager et al 9). Water evaporates hence causing scarcity of rain and water scarcity. Greenhouse effect leads to global warming and hence increased water evaporation in sea and lakes.
The impacts resulting from drought
Drought in California results to several implications that have a gigantic effect on the state economically. Agriculture and livestock products generate a big percentage of the economy in California thus a persistent drought leads to decline of agricultural sector, which predominantly relies on the usage of water (Howitt, MacEwan, Josue and Sumner 10). This equates to a rise in the economic scale of the state and the general living standards. In addition, shortage of water contributes to decline and undermine of the aquatic ecosystem in the fisheries production and the marine sector. Consequently, drought is a threat to the wildlife.
Moreover, drought experienced in California has dangerous ripple effects that incur a significant impact to the society. Some of the dangerous effects include frequent forest fires associated with the dry conditions. This is particularly along the urban areas whereby people are usually concentrated for the purposes of recreation. This creates a high risk due to congestion and individuals who smoke and make bonfires hence resulting to massive blazing of forests. Apart from the harm caused by the fires on property and people, it poses a high risk of future hazards such as flooding, poor quality of water and land sliding
Drought also contributes to losses in production especially in the livestock and dairies sector (Daniel 5). This results to death of many livestock animals creating a big loophole in the sector that amounts significant loss and drop in the quality of the products produced. Additionally, there is a big effect on irrigated areas due to water shortage that leads withering of farm crops. In return, there is adoption of pumping systems, which have elevated costs due to increase in the volumes of water pumped.
Moreover, increased drought in California creates a big loss of employment opportunities caused by the loss generated by drought as stated by the California Employment Department (Daniel 5). This contradicts the fact thatCalifornia has expanded in terms of agriculture in the past one year both in quality and labor intensity.
There is also decrease in supply of hydroelectric power. This is because of degradation of the snowpack, which reduces the supply of energy.
Solutions to drought
From the factors of drought discussed above, the following policies offer a solution that prevents drought and its effects inCalifornia. The first measure against drought is management of ground water. Ground water is important in agriculture; preservation of ground water will help in increased crop production. The step towards managing of ground water is through the establishment of stable water basins cited in the sustainable ground water management act of 2014 (Howitt et al 10). This plays a major role in the future prospects of agricultural business in relation to achievement of high quality crops and agricultural products in general.
The second measure against drought is collection of data relating to causes and impacts of drought. This is an important aspect in ensuring that there is creation of concrete steps to help minimize drought and its effects. Through this, the state is able to embrace preventive measures and remedies to combat the disaster of drought in days to come.
The third policy measure against drought is transfers of water market. The farmers utilize ground water in the same areas by launching and setting up of work plan in realizing their goals. This will ensure equitable water distribution of water to farmers during drought conditions (Howitt et al 9).
The forth measure against drought is creation of domestic water supplies for the people. Wells creation provides enough water for rural domestic use only; it is therefore encouraged for people not to interrupt these water supplies. A study analysis conducted reveals that the central valley is prone to drought due to depletion of water, which primarily relies on shallow wells.
In addition, remedy for drought is creation of employment for people. Drought has led to unemployment (Howitt et al 11);thus, the state opts to incorporate measures to ensure that job opportunities are available. The government should take measures to improve water supply by giving these jobs to the community. This is an important aspect, because it enhances the livelihood of the people.
Moreover, there are several documents that written about the management plan for water utilization in California in the recent years (Macdonald Glen, Kremenetski Konstantine and Hildago Hugo 4). These plans aim at addressing increased conflicts over natural resources and the management strategies in California. The combination of regional and overall plans focuses on ensuring reduced demand in water and increased supply. This policy ensures improved water quality, reduction in the risks of flooding and enhancement of equal distribution of resources across the state (Macdonald 4).
Conclusion
In recapitulation, water shortage is a critical issue that needs attention and immediate address. Drought disaster is the responsibility of each individual to ensure proper utilization and care to the environment in management of resources. This ensures safety and avoids severe implications, caused because of depletion of natural resources. However, there are several ways of maintaining safety in respect to preservation and management of resources. Water is an essential need that applies in vast areas in the society and thus employment of effective measures to ensure adlibitum water. Water holds a big economic percentage to any state since it is basic in all aspects of living, from domestic to industrial use. In addition, drought has negative implications that influence the economic scale. Therefore, prudent measures and long-term management plans are key factors in combating this form of crisis.
Works cited
Daniel Sumner. The Economics of Drought for California Food and Agriculture. Journal of
Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics. 11-12. {2015}
Howitt Richard, MacEwan Dancun, Medellin-Azuara Josue, Lund Jay and Sumner Daniel.
Economic Analysis of the 2015 Drought for California Agriculture. Journal of
Agriculture issues Centre. 9-14. [2015]
Macdonald Glen, Kremenetski Konstantine and Hildago Hugo. Southern California and perfect
drought. Journal of scripps institute of Oceanography. 3-5. {2007}
Mann Michael and Gleick Peter. Climate Change and California Drought in the 21st Century.
Journal of cross mark. 2. [2010]
Seager Richard, Hoerling Martin, Hailang Wang, Lyon Bradfield, Kumar Arun and Nakamura
Jennifer. Causes and Predictability of 2011-2014 California drought. The journal of
Elsvier. 9-10. [2014]
Thomas M. Missimer. Subsurface intakes for seawater reverse osmosis facilities: Capacity
Limitation, water quality improvement, and economics, Journal of Desalination. 322
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