As the federal government pushes states to reduce usage of dwindling Colorado River water, Imperial Valley farmers fear a 'worst-case' scenario.
Just north of the California-Mexico border, the All-American Canal cuts across 80 miles of barren, dune-swept desert. Up toand 20 feet deep, the canal delivers the single largest share of Colorado River water to the fertile farmlands of the Imperial Valley.
The demands have struck an anxious chord among Imperial Valley growers, who say their way of life could be threatened and the country’s food security is at stake. There are aboutin the Imperial Valley, and together with nearby farmlands around Yuma, Ariz., they produce most of the country’s winter vegetables.
“The Colorado River system is in dire straits,” said Ben Abatti III, a 28-year-old farmer. “We know we’re going to have to save water.”Beside him, sprinklers sprayed a field of newly planted basil, the spray glowing in the sun. The sprinklers use less water than the usual practice of opening canal gates and letting the water flow in to flood fields.Abatti estimates that assembling the network of pipes on a field can reduce a row crop’s water consumption by 10% to 25%.
. The district could conserve by lining more of its earthen canals with concrete to keep water from seeping into the ground, and by building other infrastructure to reduce spillage.will probably be necessary“We don’t want to take land out of production,” Abatti said. “Here in the Imperial Valley, fallowing would be an absolute last resort.”
If Lake Mead were to hit “dead pool” levels, that would cut off the flow to California, Nevada and Mexico, including the only supply of water forin the Imperial Valley. In such a scenario, Abatti said, farm fields would turn to dust, people would be forced to move, and Americans would see food shortages and higher prices at grocery stores.
“Because they’ve continued to kick the can down the road, now we’re getting to crisis levels. I think it would have been much easier to manage and mitigate the problem earlier on,” Leimgruber said. “We should have been making cuts quicker. I believe we need to be making more cuts than we are now. And it’s going to cause pain.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion: California floods portend a catastrophic future for the Colorado RiverIf the Green River merged with the Colorado River, also at flood, the Colorado River would carry almost five times more water than the 120,000 cfs that barreled into Glen Canyon Dam
Read more »
A river guide's view of Lake Powell's decline and the depths of the Colorado River crisisAll along the river’s banks, giant mounds of dried mud and silt rose taller than houses — sediment that settled in Lake Powell over decades and has been left exposed by the reservoir’s retreating waters.
Read more »
Imperial Oil to invest $539 mln in renewable diesel plant in CanadaImperial Oil on Thursday said it will invest C$720 million ($538.64 million) to construct Canada's largest renewable diesel facility at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton, Alberta.
Read more »
Dallas Hopes to Build an 'Iconic Park' Near the Demolished Valley View MallIf all goes as planned for the city of Dallas, a large, new park will help improve the green scene in North Dallas. The City Council has approved an application to be submitted for an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program grant that could be worth up to $10 million...
Read more »
Prep roundup: Dublin bounces back from tough loss, edges San Ramon Valley in thrilling fashionThird-ranked Salesian beats No. 10 Pinole Valley in boys basketball. Los Gatos extends winning streak to 10 games in girls basketball.
Read more »