Marilynn Lopez

Ms. Burnett, Mr. Okamoto

English, Economics 12
23 November 2014
California Drought
Temperatures are at an all time high, the air is moist and sticky, the sky is clear blue and
the sun shines bright yellow, burning the skin of Californians in the midst of the worst drought in
history. Over the past couple years; Californias water supply has been cut short due to human
activity and climate change. The drought effects are tragic, for there is little rainfall, dried up
lakes and farms, endangered fish and a decrease of agricultural growth. The government and
many organizations have proposed several laws and regulations to help ensure better water
conservation, however the results are not matching up to what is expected. Statistics show more
efforts being done, but the water supply is still declining more than ever. Many citizens are
unaware of how severe the issue is and continue to waste precious water. Californias
government should enforce statewide, stricter laws and regulations to decrease water use, in
order to show better improvement of the states drastic drought.
The main reason for the cause of California's water drought is believed to come from
human actions. In the article, Causes of California drought linked to climate change, Stanford
scientists say, Ker Than tells of how most believe the crisis come from the climate change
humans have affected throughout the years as they emit greenhouse gasses more than necessary
day to day. Than refers to a new study by Stanford University scientists explaining that, The dry
earth, the raging wildfires and the other symptoms of California's drought are "very likely"

linked to human-caused climate change because of the abundance of greenhouse gases created
by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. With the ever growing human-induced
pollution, global warming worsens, the atmosphere temperature rises thus causing a draught.
There are many past and new studies still being done to further explain why humans are the sole
cause of climate change. In another report, Climate Change and the Climate Drought, Noah
Deffenbaugh and Daniel Swain introduce statistical evidence of various components of the
ongoing California drought. One piece of evidence introduced was that, Human emissions of
greenhouse gases have very likely increased the probability of persistently high atmospheric
pressure over the northeastern Pacific by at least a factor of three (Deffenbaugh,/Swain). The
high atmospheric pressure relates to the reason for low precipitation in California, which has
ultimately caused a shortened water supply for the state.
Californias water drought has caused a series of unfortunate events. Over the past year
there has been little rainfall, affecting the states most important and gracious natural resource,
agriculture. According to a online newspaper, Drought Covers 100% of California for the first
time in 15 years, Jason Wells states that, .. record-low rainfall average has put California in
severe water drought for the first time in years. Statistics show 76.6% of the state is experiencing
extreme drought conditions, and for 24% of the state, the level of dryness is exceptional.
More than half the state is under dreadful and threatening conditions, worsening the states most
valuable resource. Agriculture is very important because it serves human necessities, such as
food, water and providing many more benefits for citizens. In a news story, Can Technology
Help Us Survive Californias Drought, Katherine Noyes recalls how rough it is becoming for
farmers to take care of their agricultural produce as the drought continues to worsen. Noyes
claims that The low rainfall, record high temperature and dry weather California is experiencing
is unfortunate for farmers and their agriculture, that provides food for the overpopulated state.

As Californias population increases, it becomes a serious issue for farmers to sustain their
production through this devastating drought.
In addition to the California drought affecting agriculture, the high temperatures and dry
weather are also sadly threatening the wildlife, ecosystems. In a political piece, Drought
threatens wildlife, ecosystems, Michael Gardner indicates, there are potential risks to water
quality, fears of increased air pollution in the already dusty Central Valley, and a possible buildup
of salinity in rivers that could be detrimental to fish and humans. Water animals are clearly
being threatened by low-leveled rivers and streams, and need to be rescued. It is a good thing
that there are certain organizations working to protect endangered fish such as the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA is currently focusing on building longterm monitoring plans to help save animals suffering from Californias drought with such
practices as distributing populations in different areas so they are not targeted as a single group,
and operating water system ways to increase cold water and flow rates better suited for juvenile
fish (NOAA Fisheries). Hopefully with the help of programs like these there is still a bright
future ahead for sea creatures and their habitats.
Most Californians are unaware of how severe California's water drought is. People think
that just because it rains and there are reservoirs that there is an unlimited amount of water,
which is false because after years of dry weather and low water savings, the rate of water supply
continues to drop (Save our Water). It is clear that Californians are nave and unconcerned about
the amount of water available to them due to statistics. And as cities try to encourage more
conservation efforts, their results are not what are expected. In a news article, California
Approves Big Fines for Wasting Water during Drought, Bettina Boxall criticizes cities relying on
voluntary work claiming that the state is still falling short of reaching the governments targeted
water conservation goal. It is obvious that what cities are doing to help Californias water
drought is not enough. Boxall further expresses that, Madelyn Glickfield, assistant outreach

director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and sustainability, told the board that despite
the Southlands Conservation strides, residents don't get this drought. Californians are living
in a state of extreme severity and have no idea how detrimental it is to their overall health and
environment.
One way in which California has been trying to improve better water conservancy is with
voluntary actions proposed by government officials and many different organizations. In
response to the severe drought, government officials are requesting citizens of California to
increase their water conservation efforts, however their demands and polices are not being met.
On April 25, Governor Brown asked all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water,
instructed agencies to cut red tape to get water to farmers more quickly, ensure that people have
safe drinking water, protect vulnerable wildlife species and prepare for an extreme fire season
(Jones). The governor is simply asking for increased actions to save water in regards to helping
agriculture, people, wildlife and the environment. Another government official directing to
spread recognition of Californias water drought is Eric Garcetti. He has asked citizens of Los
Angeles to help conserve water voluntarily by reducing outdoor water use and installing better
plumbing and faucets to help the cause (Stevens). Garcetti, along with Brown is asking for freewilled people to solely consider exceptional house enhancements that will help save more water.
But it is unfortunate that there are still many cities lagging to increase their chances of saving
water. In a report, California Approves Big Fines for Wasting Water during Drought, Bettina
Boxall expresses how government officials have observed, "even with ongoing encouragement
signs, they (Californians) still fail to show better results." This only shows how unconcerned
citizens are with the water drought and further supports that voluntary actions are not effective.
Organizations and agencies are as well trying to promote awareness of saving water in
order to help Californias drought from worsening but are not receiving the kind of feedback they
acquire. The Save our Water organization aims to help people of California reduce their everyday

water use. They offer ideas and inspiration for decreasing water use at homes, office and outdoor.
Some of these ideas include simple small tasks such as not letting water run as you brush your
teeth or when washing the dishes, timing your sprinkler and watering plants once in awhile.
(saveourh2o). All of these meager efforts are necessary to conserve water, however not many
people take these tasks serious. Many Californians are responding to the drought as if it is not in
a state emergency problem. As described in a editorial, California Drought: Why Is There No
Mandatory Water Rationing?, Paul Rogers confirms that many people are surprised of the lack of
urgency towards water conservation and driving by reservoirs really show the drastic result of
the water drought. Rogers also comments, With months into the historic drought, with
reservoirs running low and water supply declining, a lingering question comes to mind: Why
isn't everyone being forced to ration?. Instead of suggesting an offering ideas and strategies to
save water, the California government needs to put forth mandatory laws to address the issue in a
more respectable and serious manner.
Along with voluntary support, California's government and prominent organizations have
established a few laws to help the conservation effort but even with the increased water
management enforcements, Californias drought still fails to show significant improvement. LA
Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a law making the city reduce water supply by 20% by 2017 in
response to California water drought, asking officials to regulate their water use in public
facilities and has also cut the spending on costlier imported water. (Stevens). Garcetti wished to
meet an acceptional and sustainable goal that will benifit the city in the long run. After a year and
many months into the drought, California was prone for being in a state emergency. In an article,
State Water Board Approves Emergency Regulation to Ensure Agencies and State Residents
Increase Water Conservation, George Kostryko reports "on July 29, 2014 an emergency
regulation came into effect to increase water conservation in California. This law specifically
focuses on regulating outdoor water use because in most areas of the state 50% of water is used

for outdoor purposes." It is obvious that California is in very bad conditions and its main source
for the loss of water is through outdoor circumstances. Since the introduction of these state laws,
little progress has been made to save California from a worsening drought. This statement proves
to be true according to a story, California Approves Big Fines for Wasting Water during Drought
by Bettina Boxall, she expresses that The State Water Resources Control Board has reported
Southern California, since reducing its water use in August, started down from 7.8%, but has
only gone up to 11% which is far from Governor Brown's goal of 20%. Even after the ongoing
encouragement and local, state laws, citizens are unsuccessful in reaching Governor Browns
water conservation target.
There have been many new future laws and ideas presented to help get California out of
its horrible drought, but some seem to be either too unrealistic or not beneficial in the long run.
According to an article, Drought Aid Flows, But the Solutions Are More Costly; John Schuppe
acknowledges President Obama has signed for an aid relief package to help California improve
their water supply. Schuppe continues to say, The money supply will go to emergency such as
water, food, housing, and job training for those who were badly hurt by the drought. Obama, as
a major influential person of the country has decided to put forward a very contentious plan that
other government officials are weary about. Such officials that disagree are Ryan Jacobsen who
is an executive director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau and a Fresno Irrigation District board
member. As stated in an editorial, Obama Announces Aid for Drought-Stricken California,
Norimitsu Onishi, quotes Jacobsen addressing that Mr. Obamas announcement was a great
start, though it wont fix long-term issues. Presidents Obamas future deal seems to look good in
the present but is not futuristic for better results. There are many other organizations proving to
do the same, with providing sufficient care for the drought as of now but are not thinking of the
costs and how it will degrade the situation. California will soon be given a large amount of
money from drought relief programs to alleviate the states water drought. Its a great

opportunity to fix how things are now however in the long run it won't be beneficial because
expenses will rise above what Californians need (Schuppe.). California is in a very vigorous
position and any type of help is necessary however, plans must be thought out correctly in order
to save the state from the drought in the best way possible.
The best solution for California's water drought is for statewide mandatory laws
demanding higher fines and also funding for technological advances that will help ensure better
water conservation for now and the future. As we enter one of the worst droughts in history,
government and local officials need to focus more on instilling mandatory laws needed to save
the States water supply. One city showing significant progress and improvement is Santa Cruz.
Based on the information in, California Drought: Why Is There No Mandatory Water Rationing?,
Paul Rogers confirms, While many cities have begun starting water reinforcements, some have
gone above to enforce stricter laws such as Santa Cruz that has reduced water by 25%. These
mandatory rules are the first that California has ever introduced for water conservation. Santa
Cruzs water use reduction should be influential among other cities. With more cities beginning
to follow higher standards, there is a possibility to save California from the horrendous drought.
And with "Reaching our target and reducing per capita water use by 20% would save our
ratepayers up to $120 million" a year (Stevens). As long as the people and government of
California are doing as much as they can to save water, they will also be helping the economy.
It is critical for the state to begin immediate and mandatory conservation efforts for the
sake of saving California's well being. Government officials are vital in making constructive
laws and regulations people need to follow to help the drought. In an article, Water Conditions,
Jeanine Jones reports The Governor calls upon local urban water suppliers and municipalities to
implement their local water shortage contingency plans immediately in order to avoid or forestall
outright restrictions that could become necessary later in the drought season. It is a great thing
the governor is informing locals about cutting down on water because it lessens the

consequences they may face in the future. Saving water is necessary for many aspects of
humans everyday lives. According to the California Department of Water Resources and the
Association of California Water Agencies they announce .. conservation is a critical tool to help
ensure that we have enough water for our communities, environment, farms, and other important
parts of our economy.. Water is a critical supplement for humans and the environment and must
be preserved so that the people and their surroundings are in good shape.
With mandatory laws put in place, higher fines should be given as well to make citizens
realize it as a serious consequence. An emergency state rule was recently implemented to enforce
stricter laws against outdoor water use. The State Water Resources Control Board has given local
authority the right to fine citizens that waste water, $500 a day (Boxall). The local authorities
that are given the power to fine citizens of such a high amount of money should give their full
attention to finding those who break the law so that it can becomes uncommon and taken
seriously. Local businesses are questionable in helping the effort. As discussed in an online
newspaper, State Water Board Approves Emergency Regulation to Ensure Agencies and State
Residents Increase Water Conservation, George Kostryko addresses, if local water agencies
don't comply with State Laws, there will be legal action taken in order to regulate facilities. And
if failed to do so agencies can be fined $10,000 a day. Just like there are harsh consequences for
citizens, there are more serious ones towards businesses that dont follow state laws.
As higher fines are given; that money can go to fund technological advances to improve
water conservation never seen before. With Californians worst drought in years, government
officials are certain to use advanced technology to help improve the issue. Some ideas include
water desolation, building a Pure Water plan that will treat used water and use filtration, osmosis,
and disinfection (Noyes). This type of creation will help to recycle the water so that it is not lost
and instead put to use for drinking purposes. Doing this kind of project to save water has many
benefits. According the graph, Untapped Savings, the Natural Resources Department Council

says, Through a combination of water saving practices, water reduce and recaptured
stormwater, California could save up to 14 million acre feet of untapped water, enough to supply
all of California's cities for a year, This can be seen and proved through the graph shown

below. .

California could be

in great conditions if it followed through with smart technological projects that save water more
efficiently. It is obvious that technology and its purpose could save California from the drought.
As said in an article, Can Technology Help Us Survive Californias Drought?, Katherine Noyes

firmly states that technology "..will determine the best water management approaches to
maximize water user efficiency, minimize adverse environmental impacts, and balance tradeoffs
for society as a whole". The question if technology can help us survive Californias drought is
certainly right.
California is in the middle of the worst drought ever recorded. The lack of water savings
and climate issue has caused a statewide emergency. The state hardly gained any rain, causing
for very dry land and hot and humid weather. Farms, wildlife and the citizens surrounding and
health are in great danger. After continuous efforts by organizations and the government to
conserve water, statistics lack to show improvement. Californians do not realize that there is a
limit on water supply, so they must make smarter choices to use water wisely every day. In order
for citizens to be more precautious and caring for the state, it is the governments job to assure
the state productivity and reliability. To show this there must be stronger and more suitable laws
that can reflect a more prosperous state that has enough water for the people and environment.

Works Cited
Community Alliance with Family Farmers. "California Agricultural Water Stewardship
Initiative." Ed. Editorial Board. Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-

ShareAlike 4.0 International License, 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.agwaterstewards.org/>.
Boxall, Bettina. "California Approves Big Fines for Wasting Water during Drought." Los
Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
California Department of Water Resources and the Association of California Water Agencies,
"Save Our Water." Association of California Water Agencies, 2009. Web. 14 Oct.
2014. <http://saveourh2o.org/>.
Wells, Jason. "Drought Covers 100% of California for First Time in 15 Years." Los
Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2015. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
"California Roundtable on Ag and the Environment." Ag Innovations Network, 2004. Web. 28
Oct. 2014. <http://aginnovations.org/roundtables/crae/>.
Rogers, Paul. "California Drought: Why Is There No Mandatory Water Rationing?" San Jose
Mercury News. San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Stevens, Matt. "Amid Drought, Mayor Directs L.A. to Cut Water Use 20% by 2017." LA Times.
14 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Kostryko, George. "State Water Board Approves Emergency Regulation to Ensure Agencies and
State Residents Increase Water Conservation."San Diego Water Board Waives
Regulation to Spur Water Conservation Saving Time and Money
without Compromising Water Quality., 29 July 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Schuppe, Jon. "Drought Aid Flows, But The Solutions Are More Costly."NBC Bay Area.
NBCUniversal Media, 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.

Noyes, Katherine. "Can Technology Help Us Survive Californias Drought?" FORTUNE

NEWS, 11 Aug. 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
Onishi, Norimitsu, and Coral Davenport. "Obama Announces Aid for Drought-Stricken
California." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Dec.
2014.
Jones, Jeanine. "Water Conditions." Water Conditions. Department of California Water
Resources State of California, 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.
"The Untapped Potential of California's Water Supply." California Water Supply, Drought.
Natural Resources Defense Council, 10 June 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.