Wednesday, September 16, 2009

California Collision: Central Valley Orchards and Drought

Orchards are common sights in the northern half of California's Central Valley. Peaches, cherries, and almonds are among the many edibles plucked from trees there.

But the valley is suffering its third straight drought year. And that's not all--two years a federal judge ruled that supplies of irrigated water be drastically cut to protect a two inch minnow, the Delta Smelt.

No one is sure if the fish is doing any better, but crops and farmers are suffering. The unemployment rate in some small valley communities is approaching 40 percent.

These trees looked fine in July, but appearances can be deceptive. Trees are resilient organisms, they don't quickly whither like unwatered house plants. But they need lots of water.
California's Central Valley produces over half of the nation's fruits and vegetables are grown.

Higher food costs could be in our future, and pricier fruits and vegetables will certainly drive consumers to cheaper, but nutritionally-challenged processed foods. Which could lead to more obesity.

Next: Wind Farm

Earlier posts:

First National Bank of Oakdale Building
Strawberry Fields Forever
Tioga Lake
Mule Deer
The Pacific Crest Trail
Lembert Dome
Dana Fork
Tenaya Lake
Olmsted Point
Siesta Lake
Giant Sequoias
Glacier Point Sunset
Half Dome
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Chapel
El Capitan
Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Yosemite
Bridalveil Fall
El Portal
Obama's economic stimulus "campaign sign" stains Yosemite National Park
Drought
San Francisco and Homelessness
Is something going on here?
The Castro
F-line Streetcars
Alcatraz
Angel Island
San Francisco's Chinatown
Fisherman's Wharf
Harvey Milk's Camera Shop
San Francisco's Union Square
The Painted Ladies
San Francisco and the military
Haight-Ashbury
Mission San Francisco de Asís
San Francisco's sea lions
San Francisco's blues mural
San Francisco: Cable cars


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