Why California's five-year drought pits almonds against salmon
- 5 years ago
Managing California's drought-striken water supply is a precarious balancing act. Water is being channeled south to aid the almond farmers, but where does this leave the wild salmon population in the north? Featuring interviews with David Phippen, almond farmer, and Curtis Knight from California Trout.
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California has been in drought for past five years despite a wet winter nearly a quarter of the state is abnormally dry. The parched land has led to increasing conflict over who should have the right to the state's water.
The majority of almonds are grown in the San Joaquin Valley, which is technically a desert. The water that feeds this thirsty crop is pumped to the farms from the north of the state.
Water diversions have created problems as water levels in the north have fallen and water temperatures have risen. The local salmon species is now endangered as its spawn cannot survive the temperature increase.
Despite the drought, almond farmers produced a record crop last year. Almond farmers are becoming more efficient, using 33% less water per pound produced than they did 20 years ago. However this has not resulted in a fall in total water usage from growers. They produce more than double the volume of crops they did ten years ago.
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California has been in drought for past five years despite a wet winter nearly a quarter of the state is abnormally dry. The parched land has led to increasing conflict over who should have the right to the state's water.
The majority of almonds are grown in the San Joaquin Valley, which is technically a desert. The water that feeds this thirsty crop is pumped to the farms from the north of the state.
Water diversions have created problems as water levels in the north have fallen and water temperatures have risen. The local salmon species is now endangered as its spawn cannot survive the temperature increase.
Despite the drought, almond farmers produced a record crop last year. Almond farmers are becoming more efficient, using 33% less water per pound produced than they did 20 years ago. However this has not resulted in a fall in total water usage from growers. They produce more than double the volume of crops they did ten years ago.
Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films every day of the working week.
For more from Economist Films visit: http://films.economist.com/
Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk
Like The Economist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/
Follow The Economist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theeconomist
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/
Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6
Follow us on Medium: https://medium.com/@the_economist