| "Taking water from a farmer is like taking a pipe | | | | drought in California history according to the |
| from a plumber," John "Dusty" Giacone, a | | | | director of California's Department of Water |
| fourth-generation Central Valley farmer. "How do | | | | Resources. He emphasized the importance of |
| you conduct business?" California is in the middle | | | | every citizen doing their part to conserve water. |
| of their third year of serious drought. Almost all | | | | Getting a whole state-full of people to change |
| the reservoirs in the state are at less than fifty | | | | their habits is a difficult, slow process however. |
| percent capacity and many are quite worried | | | | Meanwhile, state economists estimate that 16,000 |
| about the future of California's water supply. | | | | jobs have been lost this year because of the |
| Agriculture is a staple for much of the region, with | | | | drought and 5,000 more were lost due to the |
| central California even nicknamed the "salad bowl". | | | | environmental water restrictions. Researchers also |
| Half of the vegetables for the United States are | | | | project that lost agricultural revenue will reach |
| grown in this region so a drought that affects | | | | upwards of $700 million this year alone. |
| California will affect the rest of the states as well. | | | | All of the water agencies in California are urging |
| If this drought continues, which is possible | | | | voluntary conservation and sixty-seven agencies |
| considering historical droughts have lasted as long | | | | are mandating conservation. California's |
| as ten years, many worry that California's | | | | Department of Water Resources is currently |
| agricultural community will cease to exist. Recent | | | | assisting local governments in preventing erosion |
| environmental laws to restrict the flow of water | | | | and runoff, recycling water, and irrigation |
| to the valley because of a species of fish are | | | | problems. The director of the department also |
| further angering the area's farmers. "It's not just | | | | met with the Secretary of the Interior and other |
| a drought", commented the Association of | | | | government officials at the end of September to |
| California Water Agencies. While protecting | | | | discuss "federal and state plans to address |
| endangered fish is important, many businessmen | | | | California drought impacts in 2010, the Bay Delta |
| in the area feel that the government is choosing | | | | Conservation Plan, seismic risks and impacts, |
| the quickest option for the fish species and not | | | | climate change impacts, adaptation possibilities, and |
| considering the long-term effects. | | | | federal and state actions. |
| This is possibly only the beginning of the worst | | | | |