CALIFORNIAGolden State of

EmergencyBy: Allyson Camitta

What is a drought?A drought is an extended period of dry weather caused by lack of rain or snow

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Causes-Global warming

-High pressure in the western Pacific Ocean-Increase in temperature

California is in its 4th year of severe drought & it is expected to continue into 2016

*According to the Economic Analysis of the 2014 Drought for CA Agriculture

Response

• CA farmers to spend a lot more money to keep crops irrigated and growing

• Researchers say CA will need 11 trillion gallons of water to recover from the drought

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• This past spring, Governer Jerry Brown announced a $1 billion plan put state under water usage restrictions for the first time in California history which aimed to reduce water usage by 25%– replace 50 million square feet of lawns throughout state w/

drought tolerant landscaping– requiring campuses, golf courses and other large landscapes to

cut water use– enforce through cease and desist notices and fines

Adaptation Options

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Adaptation Options (cont.)

• Use less water in homes and businesses• Precision water technology such as drip irrigation or

targeting sprinklers

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Resources:

1.) https://watershed.ucdavis.edu/files/content/news/Economic_Impact_of_the_2014_California_Water_Drought.pdf

2.) http://www.cbsnews.com/news/it-better-rain-in-california/

3.) http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-governor-issues-unprecedented-statewide-water-restrictions/

4.) http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/03/17/california-western-drought/23953599/

5.) http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/03/the-economics-of-californias-drought/388375/ 6.) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140715-california-drought-economic-impacts/

7.) http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/science/climate-change-intensifies-california-drought-scientists-say.html?_r=0

8.) http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/weather-climate/southwest.html