Drop in the bucket: Severe drought continues in California

It is February in Los Angeles, and finally there are clouds in the sky bearing hoped-for rain, but so far it is not enough to put a dent in a long-running drought. The system that blew through Sunday night brought the Long Beach area 3 millimetres of rain, while parts of Orange County saw about 12 millimetres. The rainfall map from the local public works department shows most areas in Los Angeles received less than 3 millimetres, which was still the region’s first measurable rain in 44 days, according to meteorologists.

“It looks like summer,” Los Angeles resident Jeff Niedbalski said Sunday, returning from hiking in Franklin Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. “Normally, this time of year everything is lush and green, but right now it is dry and dusty.” 2013 was already one of the driest years on record, and the State Water Project announced last week that it would not send any more water down from Northern California, which it has not done in 54 years.

“To protect Californians’ health and safety from more severe water shortages in the months ahead, the California Department of Water Resources … took actions to conserve the state’s precious resources. As a result, everyone – farmers, fish and people in our cities and towns – will get less water,” the department said. Most of their reservoirs are around one-third capacity. California Governor Jerry Brown declared a statewide drought emergency on January 17.

Some ski resorts are enjoying a winter wonderland. Big Bear Mountain received only a light dusting Sunday night, cold temperatures allowed artificial snow-making, and skiiers are flocking to the slopes. “Bear Mountain and Snow Summit have been blowing snow, making it the destination for snowboarders,” Big Bear resident Connie Fitzmaurice said. Other resorts are high and dry.

The ski territory around Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Mountains is still waiting for more snow. Donner Ski Ranch had to close shop after being open for only two weekends in December, and received about 10 centimetres of snow Thursday, too little to reopen. But more is at stake with winter precipitation than just recreation. “California depends so much on the snowpack … We need a good snowpack and melting water for the summer,” said Donner Ranch Resort manager Lincoln Kauffman. “The water reservoirs are pretty empty. Some are as low as I have ever seen it. Pretty soon we’ll have to ration water.”

The Sierras have not received enough snow to refill the depleted reservoirs. The snowpack’s statewide water content is at a mere 12 per cent of average for early February, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Farmers fear for their livelihoods without plentiful rain soon. If irrigation is halted, most of the farmers working in the particularly arid Central Valley could loose their crops, with potential losses in the billions of dollars.

California produces almost half of all the fruit, vegetables and nuts consumed in the US, so consumers could soon feel a pinch in their pocketbooks. Cattle rancher Frank Imhof told the San Francisco Chronicle that if he doesn’t have enough grass in his pastures to feed his cattle, he is considering culling most of his breeding herd. “If it doesn’t rain in another month there will be ranchers and farmers going out of business,” Imhof said.

As in other dry spells, Californians could face heavy restrictions. During a drought in the 1970s, California residents were not allowed to fill their pools all summer long. Many communities banned watering lawns or washing cars. Fountains in cities went dry, and restaurants could serve water only on request. Brown has asked Californians for to cut back water consumption voluntarily. During a meeting with local water district officials last week in downtown Los Angeles, he offered tips including shorter showers. “Don’t flush more than you need,” he said. Strict rationing and hefty fines for wasting water could be next.