Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
For those who don’t live in California, the massive drought for the past decade has left this state parched for water…
If you don’t know that the state delivers a massive amount of food to the rest of the world, this was indeed worrying…
Well, for most of the state, the 2016-2017 winter season has given us plenty of THIS:
In some areas, the rain totals alone are 200-300% above normal – and much of that water is being saved in reservoirs and underground aqueducts, to help what has been a dry decade in California…why should YOU care? Well, here is a look at what California delivers every year:
California is the world’s 5th largest supplier of food, cotton fiber and other agricultural commodities.
California is the largest producer of food in the U.S. yet has less than 4% of the farms in the U.S.
Some of these crops are exclusive to California: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pomegranates, pistachios, prunes, raisins, clovers, and walnuts
California is the largest exporter of almonds in the world
California is the number 1 dairy state in the U.S.
California produces over 86% of all the lemons consumed in the United States.
70 to 80% of all ripe olives are grown in California
California accounts for 94% of the processed tomatoes in the U.S.
California is the nation’s leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country’s total fresh and frozen strawberry production.
The value of the California strawberry crop is approximately $700 million with related employment of more than 48,000 people.
California produces 25% of the nation’s onions and 43% of the nation’s green onions.
So, as you can see, the rain is going to be beneficial to all of us!
NYT/MAMOUTH LAKES, CA-3/2/2017– The Sierra Snowpack is much deeper than it has been in many many years. NASA has a plane that research scientists from the Jet Propulsion Lab use to record telemetry about the snowpack. We fly over the eastern Sierras in the Mammouth Lakes area where NASA has collected data. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . <<<<>>>>: Closer in view of huge snow drifts in the Eastern Sierras. CREDIT PHOTO–JIM WILSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES. 10203627A NYTCREDIT: Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Record snowfall this year has done much to alleviate the state’s water crisis as well. You see, most of California depends on this snow in order to have fresh drinking water in the summer and fall, when the snowpack melts…
These terrific photos from The New York Times capture the beauty of this snow…
NYT/MAMOUTH LAKES, CA-3/2/2017– The Sierra Snowpack is much deeper than it has been in many many years. NASA has a plane that research scientists from the Jet Propulsion Lab use to record telemetry about the snowpack. We fly over the eastern Sierras in the Mammouth Lakes area where NASA has collected data. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . <<<<>>>>: Trees on a slope in the snow covered eastern Sierras. CREDIT PHOTO–JIM WILSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES. 10203627A NYTCREDIT: Jim Wilson/The New York Times
The New York Times has terrific reporting that tells the whole story – and the news couldn’t be better…just look at this chart, the red line at the bottom reflects the 2015 snowpack, and the blur line at the top shows this year so far:
This year’s massive rain and snow are helping the state get out of the devastating drought conditions, and that’s good for everyone…bravo to The New York Times for another in-depth piece of journalism, which we need now more than ever…check out the entire story here:
This crazy weather has been a boon to the state, but also caused some damage as well:
090-222_0548
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
© 2011, California State Parks.
Photo by Brian Baer
One of California’s legendary Redwoods collapsed in a storm..one of the classic “drive thru” trees that were carved out in a strange period when entrepreneurs devised unique ways to get “tourists” to visit…see the story here:
https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/10/one-of-californias-last-drive-thru-redwoods-has-fallen/
It’s easy to take great journalism for granted, but in an era of “fake news”, we need the real facts more than ever! I began supporting The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times – so they can continue to bring us the news we need to know…
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johnrieber 
Good news for your state indeed, John. Those production statistics are very impressive. Let’s hope that western California doesn’t break off, and fall into the sea! (As in the film 2012…)
Best wishes, Pete
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