A Colorado River doomsday is a very real possibility

Given current trends according the "Bureau of Reclamation" A Colorado River doomsday where water supply shortages will impact people AND agricultural production is a very real possibility

www.eenews.net/articles/scant-progress-on-colorado-river-cuts-as-crisis-deepens/

www.knpr.org/show/knprs-state-of-nevada/2022-12-15/key-water-conference-for-colorado-river-users-held-in-las-vegas

Because the subject is complicated, technically dense and lacks widespread public awareness, put together illustrations that (fairly quickly) make others aware of a very concerning issue which needs to be addressed ASAP

FYI


Irrigation accounted for most total withdrawals in the CRB [Colorado River Basin], excluding instream use for hydroelectric power and interbasin transfers, averaging 85 percent from 1985 to 2010.

www.pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20185049


With agriculture responsible for roughly 80 percent of California’s water use, many question the practicality of crops that cannot be fallowed and the viability of producing food for export.

www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/150508-which-california-exports-crops-are-worth-the-water

 

[dockside]

Why is this all-of-a-sudden now being noticed? I saw a PBS show, 20 to 30 years ago that showed the Colorado River's depletion and that it didn't even flow into the ocean but dried up in Mexico due to over use. And 50 years ago (I am that old), people were being warned about the "population explosion" and what it would do to our natural resources, and, ultimately, the people dependent upon them (all of us). I would bet that no one under 40 has heard or read about these issues. I fear for my grandson and others his age. The earth will survive but there is no guarantee that humans will.

 

[multivita-man]

Stop bitching about beef farmers. They aren't the primary problem. Being anti-beef won't solve the problem.

Well now there's a thoughtful reply...

 

[multivita-man]

Why is this all-of-a-sudden now being noticed? I saw a PBS show, 20 to 30 years ago that showed the Colorado River's depletion and that it didn't even flow into the ocean but dried up in Mexico due to over use. And 50 years ago (I am that old), people were being warned about the "population explosion" and what it would do to our natural resources, and, ultimately, the people dependent upon them (all of us). I would bet that no one under 40 has heard or read about these issues. I fear for my grandson and others his age. The earth will survive but there is no guarantee that humans will.

Pretending to live in world of perpetual abundance is a dangerous thing. Economists base their growth models without ever having to consider "externalities" (absence of resources due to overconsumption or pollution). That's why economists are not scientists and economics is not science. Economists never really have to consider these things. But scientists always have to.

 

[Mr Person]

Stop bitching about beef farmers. They aren't the primary problem. Being anti-beef won't solve the problem.

Imagine thinking so simplistically that you have to break things down into "being pro-beef" and "being anti-beef" in order to make a statement.

 

[Nickyjo]

one of my undergrad majors was PoliSci and recall in a lecture the prof saying more often than not that elected officials priority is to do all they can to stay in office as long as possible,... everything is put on the back burner unless of course there is an issue that buys votes

thought I'd mention this PoliSci insight because it exactly describes TRUMP modus operandi

as far as left wing politics consider that the governor of California had the guy in charge of water resign after 10 years because of politics,...


Big Water Abusers Ignored as California Drought Persists

In response to the drought, Governor Newsom has largely ignored these large corporate water sources. Instead, he has taken small measures aimed at the most wasteful of urban water uses, asked for voluntary conservation

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/20...users-ignored-as-california-drought-persists/


In his time at the California State Water Resources Control Board, Max Gomberg has witnessed the state grapple with two devastating droughts and the accelerating effects of climate change.

Now, after 10 years of recommending strategies for making California more water resilient, the board’s climate and conservation manager is calling it quits. The reason: He no longer believes Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration are willing to pursue the sorts of transformational changes necessary in an age of growing aridification.

http://www.latimes.com/california/s...drought-official-blasts-newsom-administration


as far as an example of Governor Newsom buying votes (with taxpayer money),...


California Reparations Could See Newsom Give Black Americans $223k Each

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the taskforce, which was formed by a law signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020, has spent months traveling across the West coast state to learn about the effects of these policies.

http://www.newsweek.com/california-reparations-could-see-newsom-give-black-americans-223k-1764114


BTW have an idea for an educational doodley video on climate change and thought I'd ask what other think



basically for a soundtrack thought a recording of presentation/discussion to various groups (shown the illustrations) would be a way for me to get feedback, as well as enlighten others to the topic

The “almonds for export question” highlighted in the linked articles seems spot on. No offense, as I love almond cookies, almond paste, etc., but the notion of diverting water from the delta to the west side of California’s Central Valley makes little sense in an often dry state. (I yield you those who can correct my points.) The vineyards in the Napa Valley existed decades before the west side was developed with ever thirsty nut and fruit trees rather than less money producing row crops that could be plowed under during a drought. I remember living in Fresno and hearing growers say that the west side, then without transformative I-5, was going to be the next big thing. New growers there started complaining immediately that Northern California pols were not sending them water. Naturally, when Trump visited during his presidential campaign, he sided with the big corporate growers, saying mid-water scarcity “there is no drought.” The investors in west side agriculture made their (dry) bed, but refuse to lie in it.

 

[Germinator]

Why is this all-of-a-sudden now being noticed? I saw a PBS show, 20 to 30 years ago that showed the Colorado River's depletion and that it didn't even flow into the ocean but dried up in Mexico due to over use. I fear for my grandson and others his age. The earth will survive but there is no guarantee that humans will.

Pretending to live in world of perpetual abundance is a dangerous thing. Economists base their growth models without ever having to consider "externalities" (absence of resources due to overconsumption or pollution).

the inconvenient truth is we are where we are,...

because the vast majority of people lack situational awareness,... since a picture is worth a 1000 words, consider

the simple fact of the matter is, we are up the preverbal creek w/ out a paddle basically because of the failure of the educational system to actually teach students various skill sets that will enable them to successfully confront the problems of climate change and drought head on

 

[Germinator]

A New Program Will Train Teachers to Teach Climate Change, Without the ‘Doom and Gloom’

Climate change is expected to affect every facet of our lives, and students are hungry to learn more about it. Many experts say the topic goes beyond science class and should be woven through subjects and grade levels.

Yet more than three-quarters of teachers have never received any professional training or education on climate change or how to teach it, according to a nationally representative survey of teachers, conducted by the EdWeek Research Center in December.

San Francisco State University is hoping to change that. The university announced this fall that it is creating a Climate Justice Education Certificate for pre-K-12 teaching—part of a broader initiative to tackle the climate crisis in an equity-minded way.

www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/a-new-program-will-train-teachers-to-teach-climate-change-without-the-doom-and-gloom/2022/12

FWIW IMHO we are up the preverbal creek w/ out a paddle basically because of the failure of the educational system to actually teach students various skill sets that will enable them to successfully confront the problems of climate change and drought head on

FWIW digging deeper into the topic,... seems the psychological reason why the educational system is emphasizing teaching 'social justice' as a response to climate change and drought is because of maslow's hammer

and the so called dunning-kruger effect

if you found this response interesting, have been working on a YouTube educational video storyboard idea to look at climate change AND drought from not only a scientific perspective but also a psychological AND philosophical point of view (here is a link to a PDF storyboard posted on GoogleDocs)



FYI basically infographic images were inspired by various news reports, peer reviewed scientific published papers, etc

 

[trblmkr]

I haven't commented in a while, for reasons I won't go into now. But to inject some personal observations into this conversations, I would like to. My family used to rent rent house boats on the delta a couple of times a year in the spring and fall. We were always amazed to see miles of rice and sod farms flooded in the otherwise arid landscape. Really. Going grass and rice in the desert. How is this a good idea.

 

[American]

Well now there's a thoughtful reply...

Get rid of the almond business in California, they use tons of water. Or liberals could do a better job of conserving water by reusing toilet water. The hobos in San Francisco are doing their part by shitting on the sidewalks, and letting the rain wash it away. Endangered species are dying by the truckload all along the Colorado River.

 

[Germinator]

Stop bitching about beef farmers. They aren't the primary problem. Being anti-beef won't solve the problem.

Get rid of the almond business in California, they use tons of water. Or liberals could do a better job of conserving water by reusing toilet water. The hobos in San Francisco are doing their part by shitting on the sidewalks, and letting the rain wash it away. Endangered species are dying by the truckload all along the Colorado River.

huh,... so beef isn't the problem AND almond farmers and political libtards in CA and else where are the ones causing all the problems?!

sigh,... fact is the CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD AND NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION posted on its website it takes up to 23,9652 gallons of water, per pound of boneless beef (just sayin that "huge" factor that needs to be accounted for IMHO)

www.beefresearch.org/resources/beef-sustainability/fact-sheets/water

since you listed "conservative" as your "political leaning" let me guess, you are in favor of the "free market"

well here is something for you to ponder,... what about using just economics and ignoring all politics to determine the market value of water for beef ranchers and almond growers

the inconvenient truth is, beef ranchers and almond growers are basically following socialist leadership ideas (like in Venezuela)

 

[multivita-man]

Get rid of the almond business in California, they use tons of water.

Indeed they do; industrial agriculture is a problem, with farmers wasting precious water. That doesn't change the fact that livestock farming has an even worse impact when taking into account climate change impacts. Both problems/issues need to be addressed in the near term, and with radical enforcement. I doubt there's the political will to solve a problem before millions of people actually recognize it as an existential problem, and that is why I am not optimistic for the future.

Or liberals could do a better job of conserving water by reusing toilet water. The hobos in San Francisco are doing their part by shitting on the sidewalks, and letting the rain wash it away. Endangered species are dying by the truckload all along the Colorado River.

Or you could make a serious post that isn't dripping with partisan bias. Ecological reality doesn't give a **** if you're a communist or a capitalist.

 

[ScrambledEggs]

I drink your milkshake

 

[multivita-man]

I drink your milkshake

 

[Germinator]

I drink your milkshake

if you think about it the movie characters Daniel Plainview AND Eli Sunday pretty much have the same religious beliefs of worshiping money and material goods (which is the root of all evil and is destroying the world)

 

[ScrambledEggs]

if you think about it the movie characters Daniel Plainview AND Eli Sunday pretty much have the same religious beliefs of worshiping money and material goods (which is the root of all evil and is destroying the world)

For sure. It's an amazing movie. Just watched some of it again last night on YouTube for fweee.

 

[Germinator]

something interesting to watch is,... a PBS frontline documentary "the age of easy money" (is over)



FYI the common theme of the three banks that went bust is the management of the three institutions that went belly up is they actively supported crypto "whales" and that customer base are the ones who panicked and started the banking runs across the nation (w/ large wire transfers)

Crypto-focused bank Silvergate is shutting operations and liquidating after market meltdown

Silvergate Capital said on Wednesday that it will wind down operations and liquidate its bank, which served the crypto industry.

www.cnbc.com

long story short,... crypto "whales" and their zealot believers are the root cause of the dumpster fire that started the 2023 banking runs





although this might not seem related to a Colorado River Basin doomsday,... actually the common thread is people panic (often times when its too late)

thought I'd bring up the topic of finance, because it is a reminder that money is needed to build infrastructure to address problems caused by drought