California Drought

[TomSeller]

I don't live in California, but I think it is an exceptional place with a heck of a lot of nice people that do live there. Stay dry.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Thank you. There are a h#ll of a lot of us here who also dislike the politics.

Count me in. I have nothing holding me here but the love of the land and the kindred spirit of neighbors that seem to have the same spirit of independence. The politics in Kalifornia isn't working, and when enough empty promises are shown for what they are, maybe things will start to swing the other way. In the mean time much of the state doesn't feel any obligation to be led by the nose when the idiots in Sacramento indulge in episodes of financial and moral fantasy.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Same situation here in MD, very pretty in the West with the mountains, but politics here are terrible. Just gotta make the best out of it.

 

[California]

In California and I assume everywhere, anyone elected to public office represents an interest group that paid to get that person elected. In many cases a candidate has several years of calculated, supported 'grooming' before they reach statewide office. Follow the money... and then the reasoning behind incomprehensible policy will become evident.

Let's not get into specifics and get this thread banned.

 

[downsizingnow48]

"Follow the money" good advice. I got interested in the Don Pedro dam - so did some reading. It turns out that the very first two irrigation districts in California were on the Tuolumne River established 1887. Turlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District. In the 1880's local farmers wanted to organize for irrigation but were frustrated by existing laws. So they elected a local fellow to the Sacramento legislature. He only served for a year I think but that was long enough to pass the Wright Act that provided for irrigation districts. Both Turlock and Modesto organized themselves in 1887. Ever since they have grown in the amount of water (and later, power) provided. They are the co-owners of the existing Don Pedro dam.

 

[TomSeller]

. In the 1880's local farmers wanted to organize for irrigation but were frustrated by existing laws. .

I wonder what those farmers would think of today's laws. The irrigation districts would never get built.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Those 19th century farmers couldn't build irrigation projects under existing law so they changed it. More complicated today but still going on.

Small scale: Brown signs water projects bill aiding Friant-Kern farmers | Fresno Bee
Large scale: Sites Reservoir plan gets support from Placer, Roseville | The Sacramento Bee

 

[ForestGrump]

Just about 6 miles east of my house the climate changes dramatically from a thick forest to very high desert to high desert and after 10 more miles The Great Mojave Desert. LA is a desert. Most of Southern California is a desert. The Central Valley is unique, desert turned into a monster agricultural production area. Eat a carrot chances are 94 to 1 it came through Kern County. There are also 5 giant oil fields in Kern County. Chances are you will be watching California tonight on TV. Chances are you are using a device and technology developed in California.

I can watch skiers now from my window, in the summer mountain bikers and I can be in either LA or San Diego in 2 hours, the beach 1 hour, Vegas 3, San Francisco 6-7, Tahoe 5 etc.

Lima Linda Med. Center 8 min by helo, Cedar Sinai 30 min., Disney Land 1 hour by car etc. Edwards 1 hr, China Naval Weapons Center 1 hr, Ft Erwin 1 hr, 29 Palms 1 hr, Palmdale Plant #5 2 hours etc.

Yosemite 5 hours, Sequoia Nat. P. 5 hours, Joshua Tree N. P. 70 min, Grand Canyon 3 hours, Zion 5 hours, Capitol Reef NP 7 hours etc.

We may not be perfect but we are wonderful and we like tractors. Get the picture. 38,000,000 others do too.

 

[houstonscott]

Just about 6 miles east of my house the climate changes dramatically from a thick forest to very high desert to high desert and after 10 more miles The Great Mojave Desert. LA is a desert. Most of Southern California is a desert. The Central Valley is unique, desert turned into a monster agricultural production area. Eat a carrot chances are 94 to 1 it came through Kern County. There are also 5 giant oil fields in Kern County. Chances are you will be watching California tonight on TV. Chances are you are using a device and technology developed in California. I can watch skiers now from my window, in the summer mountain bikers and I can be in either LA or San Diego in 2 hours, the beach 1 hour, Vegas 3, San Francisco 6-7, Tahoe 5 etc. Lima Linda Med. Center 8 min by helo, Cedar Sinai 30 min., Disney Land 1 hour by car etc. Edwards 1 hr, China Naval Weapons Center 1 hr, Ft Erwin 1 hr, 29 Palms 1 hr, Palmdale Plant #5 2 hours etc. Yosemite 5 hours, Sequoia Nat. P. 5 hours, Joshua Tree N. P. 70 min, Grand Canyon 3 hours, Zion 5 hours, Capitol Reef NP 7 hours etc. We may not be perfect but we are wonderful and we like tractors. Get the picture. 38,000,000 others do too.

Most the technology's you refer to were invent by, and in use by our military 10-15 years before you ever became aware of their existence, TV was invented in Indiana.

 

[ForestGrump]

Most the technology's you refer to were invent by, and in use by our military 10-15 years before you ever became aware of their existence, TV was invented in Indiana.

Huh? Oh, alright.

 

[ultrarunner]

Philo Farnsworth is the name we were taught growing up in California as the father of the modern TV...

Friends in England told me the TV was invented there.

I guess there are many "Fathers" of TV depending on geography.

Things have had a little time to dry out... took out the Kubota this weekend and quickly returned to the barn... it was still slopply and no sense creating problems.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I just heard it was some guy who graduated from BYU...

 

[houstonscott]

Northern California Snowmelt Crisis as Temps Rise into 7s - Breitbart

 

[TomSeller]

Most the technology's you refer to were invent by, and in use by our military 10-15 years before you ever became aware of their existence, TV was invented in Indiana.

The ladies at the Coast Guard radio dispatch would know.

 

[AchingBack]

I wonder how the California government so quickly estimates the multi-millions of dollars it will take to repair this seasons flood damage. Has someone already gone out to all of the damaged roads, taken all of the measurements for material replacement and labor costs? Or is it a case of wild ***** guessing?

 

[California]

The ladies at the Coast Guard radio dispatch would know.

Oh man don't stir up the trolls. Let's keep this thread rational, it's an important topic.

 

[prichard]

I wonder how the California government so quickly estimates the multi-millions of dollars it will take to repair this seasons flood damage. Has someone already gone out to all of the damaged roads, taken all of the measurements for material replacement and labor costs? Or is it a case of wild ***** guessing?

I've wondered that before. Not just this case but seems like as soon as a disaster occurs some dollar figure is assigned to it.

 

[TomSeller]

I've wondered that before. Not just this case but seems like as soon as a disaster occurs some dollar figure is assigned to it.

Sure, it's just fake money and the higher fake number the better to those people.

 

[k0ua]

Philo Farnsworth is the name we were taught growing up in California as the father of the modern TV...

Friends in England told me the TV was invented there.

I guess there are many "Fathers" of TV depending on geography.

Things have had a little time to dry out... took out the Kubota this weekend and quickly returned to the barn... it was still slopply and no sense creating problems.

Depends.. are we talking about all electronic television or the earlier electromechanical television devices?. Always a catch when you say someone invented something. Rare indeed is the person that "invents" something out of the blue. The usual course for invention is steady improvement on existing knowledge with occasional leaps of brilliance. This is true for almost any "invention". Many people from many countries were working on television systems in the early decades of the 20th century.

I believe it was Sir Isaac Newton that said: "If I am great, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants".

 

[ForestGrump]

Northern California Snowmelt Crisis as Temps Rise into 7s -

In Tahoe forecasting is from single digits to a high of 40. So offhand i would say that forecast is very inaccurate. There is no crisis, there will be no 70 degree weather at altitude for quite awhile. 3' of new snow is not an issue. Oroville lake is down 50'. Mammoth has a total of 30 to 40' of snow and will stay open till July.

I think northern LA is forecasting the 70's for later in the week though.