On Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 9:57:23 AM UTC-7, Cabrito del Bosque wrote:
> On 5/24/2015 4:32 AM, Ophelia wrote:
> > I have noticed several people here mention California. We have had a
> > lot of stuff on tv about the lack of water there. We were shown the
> > huge reservoirs with very little water in them. They were showing how
> > people with lush grass and full swimming pools were being demonised.
> >
> > Is anyone here affected? It sounds very frightening!
> >
>
> The worst thing imaginable is IF this becomes part of the predicted
> megadrought in the Western US.
>
> http://www.fastcoexist.com/3044538/w...-a-megadrought
>
> 1. SAY GOODBYE TO THE LAWN
>
> 2. REDESIGN CITIES AS SPONGES
>
> 3. RETHINK THE ALMOND
>
> 4. FIX THE PIPES
>
> 5. SMARTER DESALINATION
>
>
> They'll need to move quickly on all of the above.
>
> And we'll all need to get used to buying more produce from Mexico.

No drought in Mexico? Let's drink their milkshake.

Growing almonds is actually a smart response to drought -- yields
the most dollars per gallon. And yields of perfect nuts are highest
where irrigation is required -- no pests or diseases affect the crop.

The trouble with building desalinization plants is that they must be
used in order to pay back the investment. Therefore you lock yourself
into buying rather expensive water for the next 20 years, even if it
rains like crazy.

On 5/24/2015 11:34 AM, wrote:
> On Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 9:57:23 AM UTC-7, Cabrito del Bosque wrote:
>> On 5/24/2015 4:32 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>> I have noticed several people here mention California. We have had a
>>> lot of stuff on tv about the lack of water there. We were shown the
>>> huge reservoirs with very little water in them. They were showing how
>>> people with lush grass and full swimming pools were being demonised.
>>>
>>> Is anyone here affected? It sounds very frightening!
>>>
>>
>> The worst thing imaginable is IF this becomes part of the predicted
>> megadrought in the Western US.
>>
>> http://www.fastcoexist.com/3044538/w...-a-megadrought
>>
>> 1. SAY GOODBYE TO THE LAWN
>>
>> 2. REDESIGN CITIES AS SPONGES
>>
>> 3. RETHINK THE ALMOND
>>
>> 4. FIX THE PIPES
>>
>> 5. SMARTER DESALINATION
>>
>>
>> They'll need to move quickly on all of the above.
>>
>> And we'll all need to get used to buying more produce from Mexico.
>
> No drought in Mexico? Let's drink their milkshake.

Here here!

> Growing almonds is actually a smart response to drought -- yields
> the most dollars per gallon. And yields of perfect nuts are highest
> where irrigation is required -- no pests or diseases affect the crop.

It's a water hog!

Each almond takes what, 8 gallons?

> The trouble with building desalinization plants is that they must be
> used in order to pay back the investment. Therefore you lock yourself
> into buying rather expensive water for the next 20 years, even if it
> rains like crazy.

That's a big "if" given the megadrought forecasts.

On Sun, 24 May 2015 10:34:48 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>No drought in Mexico? Let's drink their milkshake.
>
>Growing almonds is actually a smart response to drought -- yields
>the most dollars per gallon. And yields of perfect nuts are highest
>where irrigation is required -- no pests or diseases affect the crop.
>
>The trouble with building desalinization plants is that they must be
>used in order to pay back the investment. Therefore you lock yourself
>into buying rather expensive water for the next 20 years, even if it
>rains like crazy.

I bet the California Farmers will push the state to "go big with
desalinization" to flood them with water and then they can recoop
their investment from America's grocery stores. American's like
oranges and strawberries and almonds.

William

On 5/24/2015 12:34 PM, William wrote:
> On Sun, 24 May 2015 10:34:48 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>> No drought in Mexico? Let's drink their milkshake.
>>
>> Growing almonds is actually a smart response to drought -- yields
>> the most dollars per gallon. And yields of perfect nuts are highest
>> where irrigation is required -- no pests or diseases affect the crop.
>>
>> The trouble with building desalinization plants is that they must be
>> used in order to pay back the investment. Therefore you lock yourself
>> into buying rather expensive water for the next 20 years, even if it
>> rains like crazy.
>
> I bet the California Farmers will push the state to "go big with
> desalinization" to flood them with water and then they can recoop
> their investment from America's grocery stores. American's like
> oranges and strawberries and almonds.
>
> William
>
A reasonable premise too.

On 5/24/2015 1:34 PM, wrote:
> The trouble with building desalinization plants is that they must be
> used in order to pay back the investment. Therefore you lock yourself
> into buying rather expensive water for the next 20 years, even if it
> rains like crazy.

Silly me... I thought water only came in bottles.

Jill

On 2015-05-24 1:34 PM, wrote:

>> 1. SAY GOODBYE TO THE LAWN

That can lead to flooding when there is rain. As cities get larger and
larger and buildings,roads and parking lots cover more and more of the
ground, there is less ground surface exposed to absorb and hold water.
Then we get people paving their yards instead of having lawns. When the
heavy rains come the water just runs downhill, flooding the lower
elevations for a short time, and the water disappears downstream.

>

On 5/24/2015 4:20 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2015-05-24 1:34 PM, wrote:
>
>>> 1. SAY GOODBYE TO THE LAWN
>
> That can lead to flooding when there is rain.

Nope, there are plenty of Xeric ground covers that are low water use.

> As cities get larger and
> larger and buildings,roads and parking lots cover more and more of the
> ground, there is less ground surface exposed to absorb and hold water.
> Then we get people paving their yards instead of having lawns.

Honestly...I have not seen anyone here paving their yards.

> When the heavy rains come the water just runs downhill, flooding the lower
> elevations for a short time, and the water disappears downstream.

That's what good storm sewers and drainage are designed for.