California agriculture losses in drought – $1.5 billion
Drought will cost California farmers $1.5 billion out of a statewide total of $2.2 billion this year according to a report by UC-Davis, said Business Insider. Losses will include 17,000 part-time and seasonal jobs. Because of sparse precipitation, growers are getting one-third of their usual water deliveries and are offsetting the reduction by pumping much more water from wells. Five percent of irrigated cropland in California was fallowed this year. The Central Valley will bear most of the $1.5 billion in costs, which include $500 million in additional pumping costs.
UC-Davis said some areas have more than doubled their pumping rate from 2013 levels and it warned of the effects of depleting aquifers. To read the UC-Davis statement and for a link to the full report, click here.
Californians actually increased water consumption by 1 percent this year despite calls for conservation in the statewide drought say figures from the state water control board, said USA Today. The board voted on Tuesday for statewide emergency water restrictions on watering lawns, washing cars and running ornamental fountains, said CNN.