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thebajarunner
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Water, wells and aquifer overdraft
The water woes at Baja Cactus (on another thread with an unfortunate title) bring to mind some of my experiences and observations relative to water.
Living in the great Central Valley we know all too well the problem of greedy eyes lurking about, craving some, and then more and then even more of
our precious water.
Now the dim bulbs at the State Water board think it would be a real good idea to send 50% of our clean mountain water out to sea to support a
dwindling salmon population.
Now, mind you, I really like salmon, but eating the produce of the valley and seeing the jobs it supports is a lot more important than saving a couple
thousand fish.
Here comes the real problem.
When river water is not available the desperate farmer starts drilling. Deep!!
And then the ground starts to drop, the neighbors start losing their wells, they drill deeper, and on it goes.
In Baja I know the folks at Rancho Santa Marta in San Vicente.
Years ago their fairly shallow well was struggling, the quality was not so good, so they put in applications for a deep well, since they are farming
some 600 acres in addition to the orphanage and school. Most of what they produce is "dry" farming, winter crops that depend on rain. When after
several years they got their permit the government put a meter on the well, they did not use as much water as they had predicted, and they were warned
to use more water or lose rights to the well. Just over the hill you will note that LACetto has a massive vineyard, obviously irrigated by deep
wells. The question is not if the water will last, but simply when will it be exhausted.
When I first raced the 1000 we saw very lush farming around Villa Constitucion. Years later I heard that when the water table had dropped to about
2500 feet they were no longer able to sustain any pumping and lost much of this farming.
So, now to El Rosario. When I see the entire river valley being farmed I know that the wells are sustaining the crops, but for how long? And how
much impact on the town people of El Rosario? Sad to see all of those school buses coming up from you know who, down in San Quintin and drawing down
the water table. Go just a few more miles over the mountain south and see the farms (with the same school buses) emerging in the valleys and the
local areas. Again, how long will that aquifer sustain this level of draw down?
Anyone wonder why Baja Cactus and the homes around are out of water?
Just check out the green fields under the big bridge.
I understand progress. Hey, I am a real estate developer, I catch lots of heat from environmentalists. But, we never build where the basic
necessities cannot be sustained. And today I see the large commercial farming interests coming in, drilling, drawing down, and then bailing out,
whilst the local folks contemplate just how to sustain their own basic lifestyles.
End of rant.... I hope
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mtgoat666
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As global warming and overpopulation destroy our desert aquifers, we will all participate in reverse western expansion. My ancestors came to
California from east on a covered wagon. After West is a wasteland, My progeny will move back east via tesla covered wagon
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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woody with a view
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Are 7 Billion humans enough?
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David K
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Global warming or cooling (whatever it is currently) is of little matter when what you want is rain... cool weather rain or warm weather rain.
Here was the bridge at El Rosario just 8-1/2 years ago (when we were in "Global Warming" according to a "consensus of scientists")...
Colonet:
Santo Domingo River (Colonia Guerrero:
How quickly people forget. These kind of floods happen every 20 years or so.
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Paco Facullo
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Save water,,,, Drink more Beer...................
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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thebajarunner
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David, I remember that mess
It will certainly play havoc with Pinos farming operation the next time it comes down.
And as to a previous post....
I guess some folks could work "global warming" into any topic posted
I think that they lurk in the shadows, waiting to make the "Global Pounce"
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AKgringo
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Another unintended consequence of agricultural expansion, is the loss of native flora and fauna.
The dessert is cleared and leveled, and wells drilled to grow crops, but if the farm fails after a few years it will take generations for the land to
recover (if ever)!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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DaliDali
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Bingo........warm/cold/rain/dry
There are just too many people in the entire world, chasing too few resources from the earth.
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DaliDali
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Sounds great to me.....except that beer is 98% water.
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David K
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When I was in High School, I think it was 3.5 billion people and they were predicting doom and gloom. Remember the movie Soylent Green?
The earth is so mighty and human technology will figure it out... then we have Mars... lol! Elon Musk to the rescue!
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SFandH
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Latest projections are 12 billion by 2100. The largest growth in Africa.
https://www.iflscience.com/environment/human-population-may-...
But it sounds like El Rosario's problem is lack of smarts when it comes to groundwater usage.
[Edited on 8-25-2018 by SFandH]
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mtgoat666
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We won’t solve problems when numb nuts like you reject science and technology because of your brainwashing thru political dogma spewed by your
leaders who are in fact criminal families, led by orangatangs, fleecing you rubes, eh?
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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DaliDali
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Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  |
We won’t solve problems when numb nuts like you reject science and technology because of your brainwashing thru political dogma spewed by your
leaders who are in fact criminal families, led by orangatangs, fleecing you rubes, eh? |
Heysous Christo Goat.........don't open up another blast of GW horsechit.....didn't you get enough last go round?
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Paco Facullo
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It's always a possibility that things won't "get fixed" and Mankind will be in a world of hurt ......
Just sayin..........
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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SFandH
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This is an interesting topic. The GW posts should be deleted by the authors.
Open another thread if you must.
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David K
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All things are possible!
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
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Let's just hope that it all works out well ....
In the mean time do good things and have as much fun as possible.
[Edited on 8-25-2018 by Paco Facullo]
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Thank you!,,,,,
| Quote: Originally posted by SFandH | This is an interesting topic. The GW posts should be deleted by the authors.
Open another thread if you must.
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Great observation
I intended this to be topical and timely
Then the GW trolls crept in, as usual
Let's get back to discussing invasive ag operations at the expense of local and traditional water supply
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advrider
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It's not just Baja! I have a cabin in the sierras that has been on a spring for the last fifty years, next to a ski resort. They keep building and
drilling wells and the last two years our spring is barely able to keep up at the end of the year!
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mtnpop
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One can take notice of the 30's in the high plains 5 state area.
Greed came along and the fertile grasslands were plowed up and the rains no longer came just the winds... I wish I could post pictures of the family
farm in the panhandle of Okla. where my grandparents and parents actually made it through... Plenty of places to read the history made there and why.
Then 20 or so years later deep well irrigation was discovered in the Ogalala (sp) aquafer so now many small towns are having trouble keeping drinking
water. The aquafer is not replenishing and probably never will.
All done with AG. not GW... take some time and look up that history.
You can see it happening in the desert SW when you pass thru as well as areas of BAJA.
Rant over for awhile....
Common sense is a flower that doesn\'t grow in everyone\'s garden.....
A wise man once spoke nothing.....
Never kick a cow chip on a hot day!!
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