WineLovers Discussion Group

With our national cattle herd greatly diminished in size and the continual drought in CA meat and produce prices are going to go sky high. The one positive effect is going to be the increased revenues for out local small farmers and vegetable growers throughout the parts of the country that have an adequate water supply. I wonder how much the price increases will modify the make up of our diets?

It also raises questions about agencies (food banks, etc.) that provide food for hungry families in poverty. And it might increase rising tensions over growing income inequality.

We grow a great deal of our own produce, and supplement from local farmers during market season, but we are likely to be affected by drought in the Great Plains as well, so this growing season could be tough. The California situation is sad as likely 20,000 jobs will be affected by the drought. Here is an interesting article I read yesterday about the crisis: http://www.npr.org/2014/04/20/304173037/californias-drought-ripples-through-businesses-and-even-schools

At the risk of starting a war between left and right, green and not, climate change vs. those who don't believe - do desalination plants make sense in California?

Tom Troiano wrote:At the risk of starting a war between left and right, green and not, climate change vs. those who don't believe - do desalination plants make sense in California?

Tom, the problem so far has been the cost involved in building and operating the plants. The cost per square acre of treated ocean water has made it prohibitive at this point. There is a plant on the drawing board near San Diego but I am not really well informed enough to discuss this subject. But my interest has been aroused enough to research the subject more because it's something we are probably going to need in the future.

Lou, doesn't Santa Barbara already offset fresh water with a desal plant? I'm thinking they put one in like 15, 20 years ago, not that it changes anything. It just says there's one example (if it's there).

Okay, I was right. Santa Barbara did build one, then it rained--a lot, and was never used. Here's the story on the cost of getting it out of mothballs:

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_desalination_plant_water_drought_20140131

Yikes! Expensive!