Comment by WalterBright

17 days ago

In other arid areas, people use terracing on hills so the water runoff is slowed and the water can soak into the aquifers. Also, dikes are built around fields to hold the water and also let it soak into the ground.

Are these done in California?

8 comments

WalterBright

Reply
danans  17 days ago

> In other arid areas, people use terracing on hills so the water runoff is slowed and the water can soak into the aquifers. Also, dikes are built around fields to hold the water and also let it soak into the ground.

> Are these done in California?

People terrace where the only arable land is in hills or mountains. The vast majority of California's farmland is flat as a board.

California's central valley also has one of the most massive systems of water control (aqueducts, levees, etc) in the world.

The problem with water and Ag in California is caused by the massive disparities in water rights that make it extremely cheap for some and expensive for others, depending on their water rights.

  • WalterBright  17 days ago

    I infer they aren't bulldozing a dike around the flat farmland to prevent runoff and allow the water to soak into the ground.

    This will also reduce flooding from overloading the rivers with water.

    • pfdietz  17 days ago

      You need some outflow to carry away salts. Otherwise, the water just evaporates and leaves the salt there, and eventually the land becomes unable to grow crops. This has historically been a serious problem in Mesopotamia, for example.

    • danans  14 days ago

      > I infer they aren't bulldozing a dike around the flat farmland to prevent runoff

      Earthen dikes and berms are a common feature around farmland in California.

asdff  16 days ago

There has been quite a lot of investment in spreading grounds, aquifer recharging, and stormwater capture. Last year, LA county recaptured enough water to meet the yearly water needs of 2.4 million people.

  • nandomrumber  16 days ago

    Does this mean 2.4 million peoples personal drinking and cleaning use in a typical residential area?

    Or are they including all the industrial water use those people contribute to by existing? That then includes industrial agriculture, and all industrial water use that enables modern life.

    I suspect they mean only the first one, which is at least misleading, and at worst a lie intended to deceive.