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Author: Subject: Is Water Scarcity in Baja a Myth?
Bajafun777
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[*] posted on 8-20-2011 at 03:28 PM


Start with how much water Baja gets from the Colorado River end run. Then follow the pipe line out of Mexicali over the mountains into T.J., now that is where a lot of that water comes from in Northern Baja areas.
With the concrete canals stopping a lot of that water being loss Mexicali is screaming give us more, however they are now behind San Diego screaming it is ours it is ours.
Well, the river starts its run in Colorado and heads southward so it is USA's water but old treaty with Mexico gives them a set amount of water per year from the Colorado. Note, how much would Mexico charge USA for that water if the direction of that river ran the other direction?? We are just too kind in USA and still get others talking about us,LOL. Think Baja should be putting in plants that take the ocean water and changes it into drinking water before it is too late, yes I think San Diego and L.A. should do the same. Take Care & Travel Safe---- " No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777




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[*] posted on 8-20-2011 at 04:27 PM


Water should be conserved as a precious resource regardless of where it's drawn from the ground.
I've always been surprised at the sheer volume that is sprayed on dirt driveways and streets in every town, big or small, in Baja. Every morning, wetting the ground is a wide spread tradition.

[Edited on 8-20-2011 by Cardon Man]
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[*] posted on 8-20-2011 at 04:41 PM


Oh Yea, There's lots of water in Baja. All those desert plants? Doesn't mean a thing. Water, water everywhere and.......:biggrin:
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[*] posted on 8-20-2011 at 05:40 PM


And don't forget that a mere 10,000 yrs ago the climate in Catavina was wetter---chapparal, cypress pollen has been found in fossilized rat middens from that era---that would be an environment more like Alpine in San Diego County.
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[*] posted on 8-20-2011 at 10:37 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Oh Yea, There's lots of water in Baja. All those desert plants? Doesn't mean a thing. Water, water everywhere and.......:biggrin:


Sometime called a 'fog desert', much of the vegetation is assisted by the cool Pacific air condensing on the hot desert (ie making fog/ water out of air). See the ball moss on the bojum trees south of Punta Prieta for example... The giant cardon stores water from the occaisinal cloud burst we know happens once or twice a year... othe succulents (cactus) do the same.




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shari
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 07:09 AM


Holy fossilized rat middens!!! thanks Mexitron for the new phrase of the week! Not too long ago, many of the coastal fish camps had only desal plants but progress brought water pipelines from the Vizcaino aquifer which sure break down alot...pipes rupture, pumps burn out and water is off for many days at a time...unlike the old days of wells and desalinated water. Unfortunately the desal plants were removed...too bad cause it sure would be nice to have a backup.

There is grave concern in our area about water with all the new agricultural development and mining...vizcaino farmers report ground water is becoming more salinated all the time...not a good sign. I have often thought of investing in one of those sailboat watermaker machines...just in case.




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ncampion
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 07:10 AM


Sometimes I think that they could solve the water problem in Baja if everyone would just fix their leaky faucets. I don't think there is a faucet or toilet in Baja that doesn't leak constantly.

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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 08:07 AM


I have always believed that water run towards power and money. If you pull more water at a greater then replacement you will run out.I know it seems oblivious but civilization has ignored it for years. I don't think Baja has manage to be immune to a lack of foresight. Water is and will continue to be abused.
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Bajajorge
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 08:13 AM


Water shortage?:O:?: That's why there is a Tecate store on every street corner and two inbetween.:light:I theenk maybe.:biggrin:
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 09:10 AM


Raising the price might lead to some conservation. Don't pay much in this little village. I use about 30 cubic meters a month for $4.00 dollars U.S. That's about .002 cents per gallon. Almost free. More of Mexico's cheap thrills.

That will all change now as the new marina comes on line. I'll just have to remember the days when the little place was an exotic oasis of emerald green all year round because land owners/homeowners grew such luxuriant trees, plants and gardens.
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 09:53 AM


we pay 90 pesos a month for unlimited water use and most people use alot watering their dirt...most people dont have any meters so it's a flat rate.



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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 10:12 AM


I lived in NV for 13 years and did a lot of work with ranchers concerning allocations of water. The state engineer has appropriated all the ground water in the state and it's application process for every new request. in the West- and I consider the Baja climate to make it part of the west- Mark Twain said a long time ago--

Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over.




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Skeet/Loreto
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 01:47 PM


Some History of Water Problems in Baja Sur:

In the 70's there was a 7 year Drought in Baja Sur. It got so bad that the Ranch and land owners like the Davis Family in Loreto aamong others hired a 'Cloud0seeding operation to come in and work the Area from La Paz Northward to Santa Rosailla.
During the process there came along a Hurricane and dumped a lot of water on the Mountains.
There was in the beginning 1 Well for Loreto, then the Govt came in and there are now{I beleive} 9 wells serving Loreto.
Angus McKensie of Ligui had another well drilled in the Mountains and it serves the Ligui Area.

Manny years ago "Fossil Water was dixcovered near where nopw is Constituion' is located.

It was I think at 1500 Feet. The Mesican Govt started bringing complete Villages of People from the Main land and started them growing Cotton.

Several years ago the water was pumped down to the point that the Govt came in and stopped production on one -half of the Acreage they had originally given to the People.
There was a large Demonstration and uprising and a few miles south of Constitution there is a Monument to 14 people killed by a speeding Car as they were about a 100 People marching to La Paz in protest of losing the use of the land.

It may well be that the next wars will be fought over Water. Think about it!
What would happen to La if they could not get anymore Owens Valley Water!!
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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 04:05 PM


This being the first in many years that Lake Powell is full and Mead is up is only putting off the what well be a water disaster.

Pre 208 they were building golf courses like there was no tomorrow around here,when AZ,Calif. and Nev. gets done dividing up the river there will be not a drop for Baja Norte or anything for that matter.
Rob




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[*] posted on 8-21-2011 at 06:39 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by baitcast
This being the first in many years that Lake Powell is full and Mead is up is only putting off the what well be a water disaster.

Pre 208 they were building golf courses like there was no tomorrow around here,when AZ,Calif. and Nev. gets done dividing up the river there will be not a drop for Baja Norte or anything for that matter.
Rob


Baitcast,

Lake Powell is having a very good year, however it is not "full pool".

Latest report...

Lake Powell is 41.39 feet below Full Pool (Elevation 3,700)

By content, Lake Powell is 75.29% of Full Pool (24,322,000 af)

Compared to this time last year it is 24' higher.

1997 was the most recent year to have inflows at this rate.

Ken

http://graphs.water-data.com/lakepowell/index.php
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[*] posted on 8-22-2011 at 01:58 PM


On the plus side there is the same amount of water on Earth today as there was one million years ago. On the minus side, the amount of freshwater is less than 3% of all the water on Earth. So I think the word "scarcity" should come into play no matter where one lives.
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[*] posted on 8-23-2011 at 12:25 PM


Carcross desert in the Yukon is the smallest desert in the world, I wonder if they have a water shortage?



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[*] posted on 8-23-2011 at 09:02 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
How much rain do you think they get in the low desert around Ciudad Constitucion? How come that's such a rich agricultural area? Go see Mr. Google, then start over.


Don't know what Mr. Google has to say about Cd. Constitucion, but anyone familiar with the area for any length of time at all will tell you they are in serious trouble there when it comes to sustainable agriculture.

What often happens when it comes to rainfall is people go by the "average yearly rainfall," which is a deceiving stat. Take, for instance, La Paz. We supposedly receive a little over five inches a year "on average," yet, for the last two years, I'd be surprised if we've had more than one inch. Then, a storm or--better yet--a hurricane will dump 15 inches, and presto, we're back up to our yearly average. Yet most of that water will run off once the ground becomes temporarily saturated and unable to absorb any more. So our aquifer won't be charged as much as one might think.

When agriculture first arrived in the Santo Domingo Valley (where Cd. Constitucion is located) in the 1940s, it was supported by deep wells bored by the federal government. Things looked great at first and water seemed to be in abundant supply. So great was the abundance that the politics of La Paz actually shifted to favor the farmers of "El Valle" (as the region is known down here). Cotton and wheat were popular crops, but these apparently take lots of water and soon the valley ran into trouble. Talk to a farmer from El Valle today and see what they say. Who gets access to water, and how much, and the corruption involved are popular themes.

El Valle continues to be a strong agricultural region, but now they are focused on crops that require less water and using more efficient watering techniques. The soil in El Valle continues to be furtile, but without an adequate water supply, for how long it remains relevant only time will tell.

[Edited on 8-24-2011 by Bajatripper]




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[*] posted on 8-23-2011 at 09:14 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
And don't forget that a mere 10,000 yrs ago the climate in Catavina was wetter---chapparal, cypress pollen has been found in fossilized rat middens from that era---that would be an environment more like Alpine in San Diego County.


And don't forget, Laguna Chapala would have been called Lago Chapala in that era, it was brimming with water, as evidenced by the many "playas" archaeologists have documented.




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Bajatripper
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[*] posted on 8-23-2011 at 09:25 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron


Exactly---its been raining for a couple billion years anyway---even in deserts it adds up if you have the right rock strata to hold it. Look at the Olagallala Aquifer under the high plains in the Texas panhandle---that's dry country up there but a ton of water underground.


Assuming that you mean "Ogallala" Aquifer, stick around for another couple of decades and you might be surprised at just how limited that aquifer is. I remember reading an article about it several years ago which pointed out that it is tapped by something like six or seven states, several of which are heavy agricultural producers. Add to that several large cities in that region that also depende on it, and the article concluded that once it's used up, as it surely will be, the whole region will be in serious trouble.




There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
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