California regulators are likely to approve a new water desalination plant today as state officials look for solutions to ongoing water shortages, as the state struggles through its worst drought in over 1,000 years.
California regulators are likely to approve a new water desalination plant today as state officials look for solutions to ongoing water shortages, as the state struggles through its worst drought in over 1,000 years.
But a lot of that water goes to grow alfalfa, which is only used as a feed crop for cattle, and almonds, which are all shipped to China. Both are incredibly water-intensive crops.
Comparatively, the amount of water that gets used for vegetables that Americans eat is much smaller.
The central valley could easily not grow almonds and grow feedstock grain for cattle that uses less water, but the state has done very little to push the ag business in this direction.
I've heard that some farmers' water rights date back to some treaty with the Spanish when they controlled CA, but have never confirmed it.
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