CALIFORNIA’S WATER WOES SELF-INFLICTED
REDDING LIFESTYLES, SHASTA COUNTY
January 26th, 2009
A year ago, I attended a business conference at a new Palm Desert golf resort near Palm Springs. We were offered a new Villa in a just opened section of the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa. When I hopped in the shower, I couldn’t believe the flood of water from the shower heads. I thought to myself, what a waste of water and energy to pump, clean and heat it! This is a desert, right?
When I questioned the wisdom of wasting so much water, 
locals explained the Coachella Valley sits atop a huge aquifer. Despite limited rainfall, there’s plenty of water to turn this desert a lush green. While I utilize low-flow water saving devices at my home in Redding, this place was using water as if it will never run dry.
A month later another convention brought us to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Wynn and again, I nearly drowned in the shower. Ironically, the local news was reporting that Lake Mead could be empty in less than 10 years if the drought continued. No mention of conservation efforts in the TV story.
My brother lived near downtown Sacramento in the 1980’s and I was surprised to hear he paid a flat rate for water service. No meter, all you can use for one low monthly fee. How wasteful! Especially since I lived in Redding, near the source of a major portion of California’s water supply, and my water was metered and charged accordingly.
Despite the availability of drip and sub-irrigation systems, farmers continue to flood irrigate farm land losing much to evaporation. Pumps along the Sacramento River and Delta have impacted fish populations. Levees have altered the natural delta environment drastically. Salt water from the San Fransisco Bay is threatening to encroach on freshwater regions of the delta and the diversion point of the California Aqueduct. Socal receives 30% of their water supply from the Sacramento Delta. The once squashed idea of a peripheral canal is being urgently discussed.
Water managers are about to hear some very bad news about water availability for this summer due to a dry winter in this portion of California. Cities, farmers, endangered species advocates, anglers and SoCal water customers will all be fighting for what will be a greatly curtailed water allocation. Unless a rain event of Biblical proportions blesses the Northstate in the next few months, prepare for some tough decisions by all who utilize water for life and livelihood.
530-224-6767 OR 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GMAC
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
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