Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/287883
As world population mounts so does the need for clean, life-sustaining water and the burden placed upon our lakes, rivers and aquifers. Historically the de- mands for water were a function of read- ily available supplies, so farms, homes, and industries were lo- cated accordingly and use was naturally con- trolled. But ever since the industrial revolu- tion we have manipulated na- ture with engineered "solu- tions" that benefit farmers, consumers, home owners, and businesses but now realize that our desires for this precious re - source exceed availability, leav- ing us to battle over where and for whom limited supplies are allocated. It is for this reason that we must learn to live more sustain - ably by ensuring that the bur- dens we place on natural re- sources like clean water do not outstrip supplies. All too many are unwilling or unable to bal- ance their resource require- ments, choosing instead to fo- cus only on self interests and supporting efforts that increase burdens like Governor Brown's Twin Tunnels monstrosity and Doug LaMalfa's Sites Reservoir diversion. Now in our third straight year of drought, the limited availability of surface water supply has brought record num - bers of ever deeper wells to ex- tract water from aquifers. Once typically 300 feet deep these wells now routinely exceed a thousand feet, causing aquifer levels and even land levels to drop over ever wider areas. This problem is exacer - bated because Californians re- fuse to limit water extraction rates seeing such regulation as an intrusion on private prop- erty rights. However, as farm- ers drill wells in closer proxim- ity they will realize that aquifer recharge rates limit the ex- traction rates they can achieve, leaving many to drill additional wells in futile competition with one another for a limited public resource. It is increasingly apparent that we can't continue to engi - neer our way out of this prob- lem with ill advised water sup- ply projects and diversions. We must better monitor water use, regulate flows, and charge rea- sonable fees for consumption of this limited and essential natu- ral resource to ensure more eq- uitable distribution and stim- ulate free market cost/bene- fit analysis and fund water use monitoring and efficiency proj- ects in lieu of allocations based upon outdated and oversub- scribed water rights. One might ask, how did Cal- ifornia get here? On the supply side the infamous "polar vor- tex" this winter that blocked storm fronts from reaching Cal- ifornia hasn't helped. But the state was facing dry conditions long before this with climate change at play, although many deniers continue to take no re - sponsibility and tip us into cri- sis with mantras to "drill baby drill," and endeavor to dam even more water thereby increasing evaporation and ecosystem dam- age. Despite scientific arguments and politi- cal persuasions we can all agree we do not have immediate control over rainfall or snowpack lev - els and must better pre- pare to withstand water shortages by having all constit- uencies enact better water sav- ing and allocation measures. Exactly who is most culpa- ble for failing to address wa- ter waste is subjective and de- pends largely on your politics and where you live. Many farmers contrib- ute to the shortage by irrigat- ing land with water-wasting open trenches and increasing the acreage of water inten- sive crops to maximize profit. Homeowners contribute to the shortage because they lack me- ters to track and pay for their water use and unnecessarily water large expanses of turf, fail to use water saving appli - ances and shower heads, or re- use their grey water. Industrial waste and pollution for oil and natural gas fracking and other processes consume tremendous volumes of water and cause un - told damage to clean water aquifers. Others believe that envi- ronmentalists, Native Amer- icans, and fishermen contrib- ute to the shortage by oppos- ing new water-storage projects by persuading state regulators to hold back or restore natural water flows to protect fish and stressed ecosystems. While you may find one or all of these posi - tions without merit all combine to create California's present predicament. Whether Californians will accept new fees or follow new rules to limit water use won't be clear for awhile, and even if we do it will take years to quan - tify their effectiveness. In the meantime local farmers con- tinue to plant water-intensive walnut and almond trees that consume from one to five gal- lons of water to produce a sin- gle nut, while in the central val- ley trees are being removed and thousands of acres go fallow. In the absence of aggressive water use regulation and tariffs I can only foresee an unsustainable future of water waste, rights and wrongs. Richard Mazzucchi is a retired re - search engineer specializing in en- ergy efficiency and renewable en- ergy. He has travelled extensively and now makes his home in Los Molinos, where he is striving to manifest a sustainable and spir - itual lifestyle and operate a bar- becue equipment and supply busi- ness. He can be reached at living- green@att.net. Richard Mazzucci Looking at an unsustainable future of water Cartoonist's take It was April 1, 1984, a mere 30 years ago, that I showed up at the Long- horn Saloon in the Ca- noga Park area of San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, for their coun- try-western dance les- son night. Being al- most painfully aware of my unattached status, my unspoken prayer was "Lord, please send me the right one be - fore the wrong one catches my eye." Prayer answered: after the instructor taught the men and women their steps, and told everyone to grab a partner, a pretty young lady named Bar - bara Biettchert appeared in front of me. After some dancing, drinks and conversation, Bar- bara gave me a card upon which she was gracious enough to write her actual phone number (a wrong number would be the "get lost" message). While we danced and chatted she didn't know if I had any hair under my Stetson cowboy hat; at least not until our first date a week later. I suspected, but only found out on subsequent dates and camping trips that she was really fun to be around. In addi - tion to the card, I still have the hat, the hair and the love of my life; she's my travel, ski and boat- ing buddy who loves me in spite of the extra pounds and my oc- casionally gruff, but never mean, manner. Our auspicious annual "meeting" anniversary, April Fools Day, helps us to never take things too seriously and always be quick to laugh at whatever life throws our way. Town hall meeting There will be a free town hall meeting on the State of Jefferson issue at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Elks Lodge. Several speak - ers will precede a question and answer period. Reagan's wisdom Having a funny bone in addi- tion to having a backbone was one of Ronald Reagan's quips, as related by Mike Revell, son- in-law to President Reagan by marriage to daughter Maureen. Other heartfelt recommenda - tions that Mr. Revell shared with fellow Republicans at our annual dinner ranged from the Reagan admonishment to sh ow t he e le ct or at e " bo ld colors" rather than "pale pastels," to actively seek - ing out the groups that don't regularly populate Republican events and campaigns. That message is illus - trated in polling results by Pew that show the so-called "mil- lenials," the age group between 18 and 30 who emerged into young adulthood after the year 2000, feel there is little or no dif - ference between the two parties. That contrasts sharply with the "silent generation," as well as the "boomers," who see significant differences between the Repub - licans and Democrats. Opinions by rank-and-file party members on almost all issues, when polled, show massive gaps and clear dif - ferences; the public perception among younger (likely "low in- formation") voters, that "they're all alike," probably derives from the relatively bland Republican Party leadership since Reagan. Moreover, the reality is that the information younger voters do get comes from a national news media dominated by liberals and Democrats who, while not capa - ble of creating a positive image for Democrat officeholders, have been quite effective at muddying and tarnishing (often undeserv - edly) that of the Republicans. Which brings me to the recent crime wave sweeping the coun- try and why one radio talker has a running game called "Name That Party." When news re- ports of corruption and crimi- nal conduct routinely downplay or even omit the Democratic la- bel of those arrested and con- victed, younger voters and other low-information types, immersed in social media while avoiding solid news sources, would un - derstandably be misled. For five months the media melodrama over the bridge closings in New Jersey and questions of Gov. Chris Christie (always described as a Republican) has crowded out other news. As, for example, the partisan Democratic Obama donor and supporter appointed by Attor - ney General Eric Holder to look into the scandalous and crimi- nal behavior by IRS employees' unfair scrutiny and dragged-out granting of tax-exempt status for conservative groups. IRS people provided information from some applications to politically liberal opponents on several occasions, which is a felony. Information un - earthed by Congressional com- mittees has shown beyond doubt that Lois Lerner lied under oath when claiming she did nothing wrong—she then took the Fifth to avoid self-incrimination. Yet, it's what did Christie know, blah, blah, blah? A top Rhode Island politician, Gordon Fox, resigned under a cloud of corruption; the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., Patrick Can - non allegedly accepted $48,000 in bribes; two ex-speakers of that state, Jim Black and Jimmy Green, did jail time for brib - ery. All Democrats. The Golden State environs to the south have brought resignations of state Senators Ron Wright (perjury) and Ron Calderon (bribery), also Democrats. But the corruption and hypoc - risy cake has to go to (drum roll, please) Democratic state Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco, who frequently pontificates and legislates against gun ownership and the Second Amendment. He told CNN's Piers Morgan on the Newtown massacre anniversary, "I'm still shocked & prepared to take steps to stop gun violence." However, "He was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly arrang - ing deals to procure M16s and rocket launchers to be smuggled into California after being pur- chased from Muslim terrorists in the Philippines." (Howie Carr) Yee's party affiliation was buried or nonexistent in both AP and SacBee stories. Finally, Mr. Revell believed that Ronald Reagan would still find the "shining city on a hill" metaphor to be a relevant mes - sage guiding Republican eco- nomic policy. Goal: liberate Americans from government shackles to rediscover the vi- brant, abundant economy that only an industrious, inspired and free people can create. Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com. Don Polson April Fools for each other; Reagan's wisdom It is increasingly apparent that we can't continue to engineer our way out of this problem with ill advised water supply projects and diversions. Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. I met Una when I got married and lived next door to her! Wonderful neighbor and friend over so many years. I have seen her out collecting food for the Salvation Army food drive many years. A wonderful example of community spirit! Paula L Anderson: Comment on a story about Una Jordan moving to Fresno You know what stops bad guys with hammers? Good guys with hammers. Casey John Parks: Comment on story about a man attacked with a hammer in Red Bluff Greg Stevens, Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDItoRIal BoaRD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151 ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEbook.CoM/ rbdAILYnEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @rEdbLUFFnEWS Richard Mazzucchi Don Polson one might ask, how did California get here? on the supply side the infamous "polar vortex" this winter that blocked storm fronts from reaching California hasn't helped. But the state was facing dry conditions long before this. OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com tuesday, april 1, 2014 » MORE AT FACEbook.CoM/rbdAILYnEWS AND TWITTEr.CoM/rEdbLUFFnEWS a6