Cow crops seem to be a really big issue with water use in the US when combined with poorly regulated water rights. Similar problems are happening in Arizona right now where underground water...
Cow crops seem to be a really big issue with water use in the US when combined with poorly regulated water rights. Similar problems are happening in Arizona right now where underground water sources are being dried out at the expense of the residents who live there.
I wouldn't want to make the assumption that water use by cities is more legit than water use by farmers. It's all water use and conservation helps everywhere. But farmers use a lot more. Something...
I wouldn't want to make the assumption that water use by cities is more legit than water use by farmers. It's all water use and conservation helps everywhere.
But farmers use a lot more. Something has to give, and cities can outbid farmers. (Cities can also pay for more expensive water sources, including water recycling projects.)
The thing that would have to give, in my mind, would be to stop the insane yields of crops that would otherwise not survive there. Like california growing rice and almonds. Which seems wild to...
The thing that would have to give, in my mind, would be to stop the insane yields of crops that would otherwise not survive there.
Like california growing rice and almonds. Which seems wild to someone not from the US.
Well some deserts are awesome places to grow food...if farmers get the right soil and enough water. The crops get constant sunlight and super consistent weather. The soil problems have largely...
Well some deserts are awesome places to grow food...if farmers get the right soil and enough water. The crops get constant sunlight and super consistent weather. The soil problems have largely been solved by fertilizers since WW2. The water problems on the other hand...
From a bit of Google searching, apparently rice fields are flooded to kill off the weeds. (Rice is unusual in doing well in flooded fields, as long as it's not too deep.) It looks like there's a...
From a bit of Google searching, apparently rice fields are flooded to kill off the weeds. (Rice is unusual in doing well in flooded fields, as long as it's not too deep.) It looks like there's a lot of research into alternate methods.
One method is to flood the field for less time. Apparently this works in some places, but in the Sacramento river valley, with clay soil, it doesn't make much difference. I'd guess that means it's not a good way of replenishing groundwater.
I wonder how much of the water usage is due to evaporation?
From what I understand, the parts that are deeply affected are fairly rural. So it’s not exactly a city vs. agriculture thing. To make matters worse, one of those farms is actually growing food...
From what I understand, the parts that are deeply affected are fairly rural. So it’s not exactly a city vs. agriculture thing. To make matters worse, one of those farms is actually growing food for dairy farms that are actually in another desert: Saudi Arabia.
There is definitely a cities versus farmers dynamic with Colorado river water. Cities have bought land for the water rights. Maybe it works differently or is less visible with groundwater?...
There is definitely a cities versus farmers dynamic with Colorado river water. Cities have bought land for the water rights. Maybe it works differently or is less visible with groundwater?
Groundwater depletion affects people with the shallowest wells first, but where is the water going? Every groundwater user contributes to that.
Exporting food can be seen as a more economical way of exporting water.
This could be improved relatively easily if we began regulating farming practices. Primarily making flood irrigation illegal which can waste up to 50% of the water used. Instead we could use much...
This could be improved relatively easily if we began regulating farming practices. Primarily making flood irrigation illegal which can waste up to 50% of the water used. Instead we could use much more efficient irrigation methods. Which do cost more, but the government hasn't had any issue subsidizing farmers in the past. So why not do so for something actually useful?
One reason for the title is irrigation to grow alfalfa
Cow crops seem to be a really big issue with water use in the US when combined with poorly regulated water rights. Similar problems are happening in Arizona right now where underground water sources are being dried out at the expense of the residents who live there.
I wouldn't want to make the assumption that water use by cities is more legit than water use by farmers. It's all water use and conservation helps everywhere.
But farmers use a lot more. Something has to give, and cities can outbid farmers. (Cities can also pay for more expensive water sources, including water recycling projects.)
The thing that would have to give, in my mind, would be to stop the insane yields of crops that would otherwise not survive there.
Like california growing rice and almonds. Which seems wild to someone not from the US.
Well some deserts are awesome places to grow food...if farmers get the right soil and enough water. The crops get constant sunlight and super consistent weather. The soil problems have largely been solved by fertilizers since WW2. The water problems on the other hand...
From a bit of Google searching, apparently rice fields are flooded to kill off the weeds. (Rice is unusual in doing well in flooded fields, as long as it's not too deep.) It looks like there's a lot of research into alternate methods.
One method is to flood the field for less time. Apparently this works in some places, but in the Sacramento river valley, with clay soil, it doesn't make much difference. I'd guess that means it's not a good way of replenishing groundwater.
I wonder how much of the water usage is due to evaporation?
From what I understand, the parts that are deeply affected are fairly rural. So it’s not exactly a city vs. agriculture thing. To make matters worse, one of those farms is actually growing food for dairy farms that are actually in another desert: Saudi Arabia.
There is definitely a cities versus farmers dynamic with Colorado river water. Cities have bought land for the water rights. Maybe it works differently or is less visible with groundwater?
Groundwater depletion affects people with the shallowest wells first, but where is the water going? Every groundwater user contributes to that.
Exporting food can be seen as a more economical way of exporting water.
If you read this and are upset please use that emotion to eat less meat.
This could be improved relatively easily if we began regulating farming practices. Primarily making flood irrigation illegal which can waste up to 50% of the water used. Instead we could use much more efficient irrigation methods. Which do cost more, but the government hasn't had any issue subsidizing farmers in the past. So why not do so for something actually useful?