From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Jay Lund,
Jeffrey Mount and Ellen Hanak:
As the effects of the drought worsen, two persistent water myths
are complicating the search for solutions. One is that
environmental regulation is causing California’s water scarcity.
The other is that conservation alone can bring us into balance.
While some places in the West ban fireworks altogether, or
greatly limit what you can light off when conditions are ripe for
fire, other states are going in the opposite direction.
For many, the Fourth of July is not complete without shooting
off a few fireworks to commemorate the holiday and America’s
independence.
But fire officials say this season’s near-record low rainfall,
combined with steady and intense heat, is increasing the risk
that patriotic celebrations could touch off major fires.
A raging wildfire in Napa County continued to threaten hundreds
of structures Wednesday night as several other fires broke out in
parched vegetation in Central and Northern California.
In the first six months of the year, Cal Fire has battled more
than 2,715 fires – nearly 900 more than the average tally – and
the worst is yet to come.
Mix in illegal fireworks, and fire could quickly spread out of
control; it happens every year, especially around July Fourth.
This year’s drought will only make matters worse.
California almond growers will harvest a record 2.1 billion
pounds this year, a federal agency projected Monday, further
evidence that water is finding its way to this profitable crop.
From the San Francisco Chronicle, in Tom Stienstra’s Outdoors
column:
As the Fourth of
July arrives, rangers will crack down on illegal campfires, all
fireworks and smoking in banned areas. Fire danger across
California is in the red zone. Everybody knows that,
right?
From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Tom DeVries:
We all know where the water isn’t. It’s missing from streams,
lakes, reservoirs and the snowpack. … We need to cut down
a lot of trees and plants in the Sierra – half or more.
From the Wall St. Journal, in a commentary by Edward P. Lazear:
Many parts of the country, notably California and Texas, are
experiencing intense drought. … Yet weather isn’t the only
problem: Government-dictated prices, coupled with restrictions on
the transfer of water, have made a bad situation much
worse.
Fresh fruits and vegetable prices will go up an estimated 6%
in the coming months, the federal government said
Wednesday, as California’s ongoing drought continues to hit price
tags in grocery stores across the country.
The California drought is helping save the state’s signature tree
– the mighty oak – by slowing down the spread of the plague-like
disease scientists call sudden oak death.
Driven by exceptionally warm ocean waters, Earth smashed a record
for heat in May and is likely to keep on breaking high
temperature marks, experts say.
When a single snowflake falls peacefully atop a Sierra peak, it
begins a turbulent journey to help quench the thirst of a
drought-stricken state. … Today, on the cusp of a long,
dry summer, we follow the melting snow — and meet its dependents
— along one of its many routes from remote peaks to thriving
communities around the Golden State.
California’s drought conditions have worsened over the past week
with the percentage of the state suffering from the highest
category increasing, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
