Water Shortage in California (Essay Sample)

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Water Shortage in California
The history about the state of water in California is not very impressive. Concerns about the availability, quality and distribution of water are growing by each day (Gleick, Cooley and Groves 17). Solutions are becoming more complex for water managers who strive to provide quality water to homes, farms and businesses as well as managing the floods and protecting he environment. This research paper seeks to delve into the water situation in California. It highlights the water shortage phenomenon, its economic impacts, alternative sources of water and the impact of shortages on other allied sectors.
Widespread of Water Shortage
The Californian water management systems have had a series of complicated issues that require immediate attention. For example, the Sacramento-san Joaquin delta, which is the largest source of water supply in the state, faces a serious ecosystem problem and other seismic risks that threaten water supply efficiency, reliability and quality (Bentz 1). The Colorado River, which is an important source of water in the southern California, has undergone a series of droughts leading to a serious concern to the water supply in this region as well as the changing hydrology (Lobell, Cahill and Field 189). In addition, many groundwater basins in this state have suffered from overdraft and pollution. Generally, in the whole state of California, the risks of floods grow since many people live in the flood plains.
The recent climatic changes that have taken place in this region are enough to raise concerns on magnitude of the problem. Analysis of paleoclimatic data indicates that the hydrologic conditions in California and the west significantly vary (Lobell, Cahill and Field 191). The pattern of droughts is no longer defined, it is recurring and extended. Furthermore, the average snowpack during the early spring decreased by about 10 percent in the last century in the Sierra Nevada (Bentz 1). During the same period, the sea level along the coast of California rose by seven inches. The temperature in California has risen by one degree farenheit, mostly at night and during the winter. There is also an abnormal pattern in floods, there has been an increase in the peak natural flows in the California Rivers within the last 50 years and in other extremes, the southern California cities have experienced their lowest recorded annual precipitation.
Economic Impacts
The preceding analysis about this condition suggests that the Californian economy can continue to flourish and grow despite these drawbacks in water supply. However, the reality is that the California’s water crisis has a potential danger that could translate into serious economic setbacks. Of greater concern is the potential supply interruptions and long-term unreliability in supply of water and economic goods that rely on water supply for production (Howitt, Medellín-Azuara and Mac Ewan 1). Regional economies are also concerned about the declining groundwater basins and the unpredictable catastrophic flooding. A collaborative economic impact modelling effort between the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and DWR has estimated the income and employment state based on the irrigated agriculture in the central valley and concluded the following (California Department of Water Resources chpt 5):
* The central farm revenue losses estimated to range between 325 million dollars and 477 million dollars.
* Groundwater pumping cost increases are expected to range between 153 million dollars and 165 million dollars.
* The associated total employment loss is estimated to be between 16,200-23,700 full-time equivalent jobs with lowest paying categories.
* Total income losses to those involved directly in crop production and businesses related to crop production is estimated to range between 440 million dollars and 644 million dollars.
Farmers in California have a great uncertainty for the future in terms of prices for products and farm inputs. Some articles such as "The End of Agriculture in American Portfolio" (Blank, 1998) are enough to suggest the state in which the Californian farmers are in.
Alternative Water Sources
California has since looked for various other ways of getting water, one of these ways is through recycling. The Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD), found in West Texas, is recycling millions of gallons of water from sewage treatment plants (California Department of Water Resources chpt 5). The cleaned up water is then blended with water from area reservoirs before being supplied into homes and industries. Another important project adopted by California is the harvesting of rainwater. During the flooding seasons, the water is tapped, treated and stored into large tanks for later use. The runoff from the snowmelts during spring is captured and stored for use later in the season. This project has helped the state to have a continuous supply of water to homes, farms and even businesses.
Import and Export Issues
California’s traditional sources of imported water faced a lot of challenges. For example, the long drought which affected Colorado River Basin depleted the stored supplies. Moreover water agencies in the southwest realized that the Colorado River was oversubscribed due to the annual allocations that were based on the average flow during an exceptionally wet period. The continuous population growth in this region has increased the potential demands on the sources of south California’s imported supplies (Cline 121). Simultaneously, climate change posed danger of decreasing the winter snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which acted as a giant natural reservoir. This threatened the interdependence between the northern and the southern California. Finally, the vulnerability, fragility and unsustainability of Bay Delta which was the transfer point for water exported to southern part of California also resulted in reduced reliability of water to sustain economy and the people’s lifestyles.
Possible Solutions
Faced with these challenges, California should embark on concerted self-help programs that aim at replacing the imported water with locally sourced supplies. As a country whose population is growing, the State needs to increase her water supplies in order to meet their needs. It also needs to protect inevitable interruptions such as natural disaster and environmental mitigation from paralyzing the efforts to import more water.
Secondly, California’s State government should teach its citizens on how to use water more efficiently so as to reduce demand. Some primary strategies that can be used are; increasing prices, regulations and rebates. Pricing water will have a limiting effect on its dema...