Southern California Drought Forces More Conservation

Bill Kahrl’s drought column (“Water, Water,” Opinion, April 29) shows some real insight into current drought attitudes but misses the point badly when it comes to allocating shortages.

Kahrl’s worst mistake comes when he picks up the now-familiar chant about California farmers getting too much water while city dwellers have to do without. Kahrl acknowledges himself that farmers have taken cuts of up to 50%. Isn’t giving up half of their water supply enough?

For most of us, cutbacks in water supplies are an inconvenience, at worst the loss of some landscaping. For some farmers a 50% cut in water supply means a 50% cut in their paycheck. And it isn’t just farmers either. One out of two jobs is related to agriculture in the Central Valley. For a lot of workers it’ll mean a 100% pay cut.

Beyond the hardship to farmers and farm workers, we would do well to remember that Californians enjoy the least expensive, best quality food in the world. It takes water to grow that food. In fact, it takes over 4,500 gallons of water to grow and process one Californian’s daily diet.

Kahrl thinks public water systems ought to serve the public. We agree, and when Californians put on a nice cotton shirt or blouse, or when they sit down to eat, that’s part of the bargain.

So should California farmers conserve water? You bet. Like all of us, farmers will have to get by on less during the current drought. The difference is farmers are used to watching their water. Even when water supplies are normal, farmers are allotted a certain amount from water projects and when it’s used up they get no more. As a result, California farmers are among the most efficient water users anywhere.

In some ways California is lucky. Four years of drought would bring most states to their knees. But more than luck it is our water management system that has enabled us to weather this drought as well as we have. As California continues to grow, there is still room for our water system to grow with it. Even today, cities and farms combined use only 37% of our runoff.

If we can break the policy gridlock over water in our state, Californians can continue to enjoy ample, high quality water. If we don’t break that gridlock, California’s luck may soon run out!

STEPHEN K. HALL

Executive Director

California Farm Water Coalition

Fresno