Opinion: Fresno writer remembers watery joys of the past, even as the drought wears her down
As if I’m a thirsty person craving my next drink, I keep thinking about water. I hear the stories. A 20-acre family farm sits fallow. Down the road, another piece of land has the same barren look. Is the problem reasonable crop values or access to water? Likely, a bucket of both. Fresno averages 11.5 inches of rain per year. Total precipitation from Oct. 1, 2020 to date is 6.59 inches, or 60% of normal — a larger percentage than most parts of the state. In the canal I floated down as a kid, not a drop of water has flowed all season.
-Written by Danielle R. Shapazian, a nurse and writer who lives in Fresno.