By Ed Laivo – Sales and Marketing Director, Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery
Measuring Snow Sample
In the final weeks of March 2011 the Sierra snowpack survey was released, this year is 160% water content and, with that, Governor Brown proclaimed the 3 year old drought declaration ended. I suppose a celebration of sorts is in line for the farmers, they have struggled with as little a water allotment as 45% of normal in the last 3 to 5 years. Many have suffered heavy financial losses. Even with all the celebrating we could do, I would suggest caution as history tells us the next drought is just around the corner.
Since the turn of the century, there have been many drought periods in California. Most are minor 2 to 3 year periods of low rain that end with either a more regular rain pattern or with an extreme wet year. Since 1990, there are also recorded 6 extreme drought where rainfall and snow pack were critically low. They are 1928-37, 1943-51, 1959-62, 1976-78, 1987-89 and most recently 2007-2010. One other curious note is that all the recorded extreme droughts have ended with an extreme wet year along with catastrophic damage to some part of the state. In 1938 the great San Luis to San Diego Coastal floods ended the drought of 1928 to The floods of 1955 which affected most of the state were the end of the drought of the late 40’s and 50’s. The severe rains of 80-81 (the pineapple express) put an end to the late 70’s extreme dryness. The point is that within 2 to 5 years of the end of the last dry period we are in a new dry period. Drought is a common occurrence in this state.
Kern County Bridge
The fact that a dry period or extreme drought occurs regularly seems only relevant if it impacts the average daily citizen. Historically, California drought impacts have been felt most severely by the farmer. The wet periods have been far more impacting and inconvenient to the general public. The farmer has made adjustments to better endure the extended dry periods and farming has become more stable during these occurrences. The general public has only been moderately inconvenienced during the last 30 years as a result of metering and somewhat higher water bills. The next drought will arrive quicker than the last and the reason will have more to do with greater demand. One can imagine the impact by just looking at population growth relative to dry periods. The population of California during the 1928-37 drought was 5 million+, the drought of 1943-51 the population was 10 million, 1959-62 was 16 million, 76-78 was 23 million and as of the 2007-2010 the water consuming population is 37 million. 14 million more people than in 1978 with only 2 million acre feet of water collection capabilities added during that same time period. The US water management uses .025 to 1 acre foot per average home as calculated yearly consumption. At that rate of growth, the time to the inevitable next drought will only get shorter.
The question has to be: is the drought really over or is this just a lull until we are hoping for the next ‘March Miracle’. Entering March 1991, the snow-water equivalent for the snow ear was just 15 percent of average. If not for the Miracle March, “it would have been curains,” Barbato said. “Somebody up there was looking out for us.” (Tahoe Daily Tribune 2008).
Keeping responsible water use issues in the forefront ofdesign is a must for our industries’ future.
About Devil Mountain Nursery
Devil Mountain is a wholesale nursery and brokerage located in San Ramon, California. Devil Mountain Growers is a premium grower in Clements, California. To learn more about Devil Mountain’s plants please visit devilmountainnursery.com or call us at (925) 829-6006.
