A new report issued Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor notes that the drought has worsened, and puts much of California in the most extreme drought categories. Ed Joyce, Capital Public Radio:
“[While] many other western states saw improvement in the drought over the past week, California did not, due to another week of unseasonably warm and dry weather.
“The warm, dry weather, "in addition to a dry spring (and dry and warm winter), has lowered USGS monitored 28-day averaged coastal streams to near- and record lows in California's Humboldt and Mendocino Counties - that count on spring rains for flow - from D2 [Severe Drought] to D3 [Extreme Drought]."
Responding to the extreme drought – and rising water prices - some farmers are radically rethinking their crops. Lesley McClurg, Capital Public Radio:
“Debbie Broomell runs the boutique winery with her father Gary Broomell. Their grape vines are only a few years old.
“For three generations, the Broomell’s have grown citrus. But, it’s been hard to stay profitable growing oranges.
"’With the water problems... we’re looking for something that uses a little less water and grapes seem to be it,’ says Gary Broomell.
“The price of water in San Diego County more than doubled in the last six years and vineyards require 25 percent less water than orange groves.”
But, for all the bad news, there is increasing likelihood that El Niño may bring a wet winter. Paul Rogers, San Jose Mercury News:
“In a promising trend that increases the likelihood of steady storms this winter that could ease California's historic drought, federal scientists on Thursday reported that El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean are continuing to grow stronger.
“The probability of an El Niño -- defined as warmer water at the equator and shifting winds that can bring major weather changes -- being present through the end of 2015 is now 85 percent, up from 80 percent last month, and 50 percent three months ago, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"’The big takeaway is that obviously El Niño has strengthened,’ said Mike Halpert, deputy director for NOAA's climate prediction center in College Park, Maryland.
"’We are more confident that it is going to last through the rest of the year, and at this point, we're slightly favoring a strong event.’"
Democrat Michael Eggman appears poised to make another run against congressman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock). Or is he? John Ellis, Fresno Bee:
“Just what is Kingsburg Democrat Michael Eggman up to?
“It’s hard to know for sure because the voice mail on his cell phone has been full for weeks and he hasn’t returned text messages to the same number.
“At this point, based on a Thursday Facebook post, it appears he’s going to make a second congressional run against Turlock Republican Jeff Denham.
“This much is actually known, based on official paperwork — Eggman has filed a candidate intention statement to run for the 31st Assembly District, and he’s also filed a statement of organization to run for the 10th Congressional District.”
And speaking of Central Valley pols, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearingin attended a high-level White House trade session Wednesday. Michael Doyle, Sacramento Bee:
A feverish White House trade pitch is relying on support from California Republicans in a cross-party lobbying campaign that reaches beyond Capitol Hill.
With a showdown congressional vote fast approaching, the Obama administration’s touch has extended to Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. Though a stalwart Republican, Swearengin was the only mayor at a high-level White House trade session Wednesday alongside cabinet secretaries and corporate CEOs…
“Swearengin, who was representing the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the White House event, joined Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri and Republican Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina in a panel discussion on trade and 21st century competitiveness.”
Dems and Reeps agree that the state’s roads need to be fixed- they just can’t agree on how. Allen Young, Sacramento Business Journal:
“Everyone agrees that deteriorating highways are becoming more hazardous. The Brown administration reports the state has deferred some $59 billion in road maintenance. But partisan divisions may block allocation of additional funding for road repair.
“Here’s the difficulty: Democrats and Republicans each have their own ideas for raising the money — but they need each other to pass legislation.”
Oh good, that always works.
Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart took up California’s extreme drought on Wednesday’s show, poking fun at the Governor’s linguistic gyrations on the subject. Lucky for us, Stewart hadn’t heard Bakersfield Assemblywoman Shannon Grove’s remarks, made last week at the California ProLife Legislative Banquet. From Jason Katowski, Bakersfield Californian:
“The power of God disrupted normal weather patterns and meted out California’s ongoing drought as retribution for abortion, according to statements attributed to Assemblywoman Shannon Grove…”
“Grove, R-Bakersfield, noted that Texas was in a long period of drought until Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill banning late term abortions.
‘“It rained that night,’ Grove is quoted as saying…. ‘Now God has His hold on California.’”
Stewart may have missed Grove’s remarks, but she’s making headlines at Raw Story and generating calls, published by her hometown paper, for her to step down, and even some supporters are backing away from her comments.
“’We are huge fans of Shannon Grove and all her efforts in Sacramento on behalf of life,’ [Marylee Shrider, executive director of Right to Life of Kern County] said. ‘That being said, we have not made a connection between the drought and abortion here in California.’”
We here at the Roundup can’t divine whether or not God has sent the drought as punishment for California’s sins, but we are absolutely certain that God could only have sent this story our way with the intention of us naming Assemblywoman Grove as the winner of our #WorstWeekinCA award. Done.
Amen, and see you next week!
