need to add title here

Web Extra: The Water Diet

December 27, 2009 5:20 PM

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says his state needs to take a dieter's approach to water consumption.

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by fariborzzak January 28, 2010 2:02 AM EST
Go and play your roll in a movie.He sucks.
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by randyfortner December 31, 2009 12:35 AM EST
OK usage of water and real scientific based solutions are needed-not BS from the pior DWR?s DWR Jean Brown?s administration solutions. If we started pumping sewage inland, reuse of water of reestablishing wetlands and pumping back into rivers in LA and southern CA and northern CA we would have way more water than we need? period. We need technology not politics. The systems were put to work in Humboldt County and they work. Not one more drop to LA. I don?t know about any of yopu. I grew up here and I think the fact of living with LA influence is sad-drugs gangs and more Hollywood crap. Give me fishing and the out doors. Grow up CA and DC.
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by beauboy1 December 28, 2009 8:37 PM EST
There doesn't seem to be a need to take personal responsibility while the state is facing catastrophic water shortage. We are losing billions of dollars worth of agriculture and fruit business, while the unemployment rolls are going thru the roofs. we will need technology to play a major role in recovery, but we will also require belt tightning, and each California citizen taking personal responsibility as guardians of this precious resource. We can blame the democrats for our water worries, but we have a republican governor, and i didn't hear him try to place the blame on the other party.
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by waterguys December 28, 2009 12:44 PM EST
60 minutes did a pretty good job on this story. It's too bad they didn't have enough time to focus on the fact that Interior Secretary Salazar and his henchman Undersecretary Hayes is only giving lip service to this problem. The Obama administration recently came out with a policy paper on California water but it only skirts around the edges of this problem. They could turn the pumps back on to supply Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley and alleviate this problem if they wanted to do so.

This past year wasn't a drought year in California. See the plots at:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_ESI.2010.pdf

and

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_FSI.2010.pdf

The water shortages are because the Federal fish agencies using the Endangered Species Act throttled back the pumps so much that they created a regulatory drought. Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman George Miller have actively led the Democrats to make partisan votes to prevent the water from being turned back on, even temporarily. See some votes:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RepDevinNunes#p/u/23/yKPG6J6MPP8

and

http://www.youtube.com/user/RepDevinNunes#p/u/33/75jk5ZSqmAg

and

http://www.youtube.com/user/RepDevinNunes#p/u/14/mvK-dUQzF4Y

and

http://www.youtube.com/user/RepDevinNunes#p/u/12/3sYcp5yqeTU

California needs relief now so it can continue to provide fruits and vegetables to the world. It isn't good strategic policy for us to outsource our food supply to the Chineese. Please call your congressional representatives and tell them to stop listening to the Democratic leadership on this issue. It is only partisan because they are listening to Rep. George Miller and he made it that way.

What a way to run a country.
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by mjtanquary December 28, 2009 5:22 AM EST
Agree with comments above and want to add the following:
1) CA has been in a water crisis for years, but only this year did governmental agencies in Southern CA start imposing water restrictions. It took the judges decision about the smelt to limit the use of pumps and therefore the supply of water to Southern CA that prompted rate increases and finally water restrictions. I have neighbors that had broken irrigation pipes water daily sending streams of water into the gutters. Constant calls to my water district produced only "We'll send a letter" responses until this year!
2) Farmers had a sweetheart deal on the cost of water, paying 30% of the rate, with the provisio that when there was a shortage they would be the first to cut off.
3) Farmers for the most part use very water wasteful ways of irrigation. They have known the shortage was coming but they cohose not to invest in more efficient systems. These farmers are like the General Motors of the agricultural industry.
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by beauboy1 December 28, 2009 12:57 AM EST
Thanks 60 Minutes fr an excellent report on California's water shortages. I'm a California resident, and although we've had various messages regarding measures for saving water, and penalties for using too much water, and the best ways/times to wash a car or water your lawn, something was missing. I believe it was the Gov. Schwarznegger who stated that "education,"is the key. You know something, i believe the Governor is absolutely right. The people of California need to know exactly what is happening with the water, and how the old system isn't going to work much longer. In fact how the old system that carried us this far is no longer working. That helicopter trip above, where the ocean water is filtered back to California, and how fragile it's become should be a wake-up for all who lived in and love California. It was sad to see the devastation of thousands of acres of farmlands, and 40% unemployment rate amongst the area farm workers. i don't know how many people may have missed tonight's episode due to Sunday night NFL, etc, but for me and the people who live in/or love California, this episode should be a "watershed?" moment. Personally, I will start to treat water as one of ur more precious resources. I also believe most Californians will do the same once they understand the gravity and significance of the problem. It's not going to be easy, but, but like someone state, 'this is our Katrina!" There is too much to lose by standing by and doing nothing, and playing the blame game. This is a equal opportunity drought we're having, and it will hurt everyone, whether we're democrat,repub. or independent.
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by nanagail60 December 27, 2009 10:58 PM EST
what happened to desalination? What happened to cleaning gray water? We instead throw out water and and expect the nest rain storm to pring us moer. we can do wetter.
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by randyfortner December 27, 2009 10:01 PM EST
The City of Los Angeles pumps enough water into the Ocean every year that could help stop abuse of the Delta. Not one word of Las massive water use by your story. OK there was a little. If LA and San Diego would pump sewage inland instead of the Ocean CA might stand a chance to make it another 100 years. Currently the antiquated sewage system pump million of gals of water into the ocean and water rides a convention layer right back to our beaches. The Department of Water Resources is a political arm of politics and not an independent scientific engineering arm with a mission of providing reasonable choices, solutions, to CA and our Farmers. LA needs more water- our northern farm base was hurt by CA water politics. You see when water was pumped south the southern crops mature faster than the northern crops. Our farmer base in the delta went bankrup and was replaced by housing. Where the water was pumped, the top soil is measured in inches and nothern topsoil is measured in feet. The real solution for not only water but energy is to bring CA into the 21st century and use technology to find solutions- such as reuse of water and enhancing our existing biological systems. The mexican border is much harder to cross and tunnel when it is filled with wetlands. This is so sad to see such abuse of CA systems for such an ignorant arm of Gov. Please be more careful with your reporting. Don?t provide the existing gov with and credibility? will grow up, maybe some day..hopefuly befre more damage is done- both economicaly and enviornentaly.. PS I like our nothern wetlands, fishing hunting. I don't like the LA drugs and music that has hurt so many trying to grow up in this state.... well bye
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by randyfortner December 27, 2009 9:51 PM EST
The City of Los Angeles pumps enough water into the Ocean every year that could help stop abuse of the Delta. Not one word of Las massive water use by your story. OK there was a little. If LA and San Diego would pump sewage inland instead of the Ocean CA might stand a chance to make it another 100 years. Currently the antiquated sewage system pump million of gals of water into the ocean and water rides a convention layer right back to our beaches. The Department of Water Resources is a political arm of politics and not an independent scientific engineering arm with a mission of providing reasonable choices, solutions, to CA and our Farmers. LA needs more water- our northern farm base was hurt by CA water politics. The real solution for not only water but energy is to bring CA into the 21st century and use technology to find solutions- such as reuse of water and enhancing our existing biological systems. This is so sad to see such abuse of CA systems for such an ignorant arm of Gov. Please be more careful with your reporting. Don?t provide the existing gov with and credibility? will grow up, maybe some day..
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