Tired of the brown

[Arlo]

you gotta quit drinking so much you arent in texas anymore  .



semp

Actually .... I am. Just 325 miles further East.  (But you may be right about cutting back.)

[eagl]

Put down an inch or so of really good organic compost/mulch.  Heck, make your own, get a couple of of those rotating barrel composting drums and toss in all your organic trash.  Some city landfills run a composting program where a couple of times a year you can haul off as much compost as you want.  Just spread it out evenly on top there.  New life for dead soil, works wonders and its a lot more effective than chemical fertilizers.  It adds nutrients and the organic material helps retain moisture.

In an area with high clay, a good gameplan is to spread out some sand with a fertilizer spreader whenever you fertilize or seed.  Don't even need to till it in unless you think it'll erode off or wash away before it mixes in naturally.

[bustr]

Bunch of lucky bastages. Governor Moonbeem just declaired everyone not a gazzilionair in Hollywood or Plam springs has to let their lawn die or be fined up to $10,000. All over a tiny fish, that back in the 50's, it's cousin from Japan which you need a DNA test to tell the difference, was seeded into the sacramento delta and is not in decline. The salmon and other game fish don't care which one they eat.

And the cost for a high speed rail between LA and SF is exactly what it would cost to build desalinization plants for both cities. Just like San Diego is bringing on line this year so they can cut ties with the Cal Water Board and paying through the nose for water from the Colorado River. They set a $1.6B bond which will be paid off in 20 years by a small tax increase. And San Diego will have water courtesy of the Pacific.

So the agrarian districts most effected by this drought and Obama turning off the delta spigot to save the minnows?? Is the bulk of republican farmers and ranchers in California. The democrat farmers are in the Imperial valley supplied by Colorado river water and they are over producing alfalfa which they sell to China and the middle east for its weight in gold. Republican ranchers cannot afford the alfalfa to feed their beef, so are moving out of the state. Democrat farmers are shipping billions of gallons of water out of the US locked up in that alfalfa while California is in a manmade drought. Interesting way to accomplish forced redistricting.

The bulk of republican voters are ranchers and farmers inland from the coast. As they leave the state due to being cut off from water, the California legislator takes another step towards making all of California's government democrat. A little resource mismanagement goes a long way. 

[guncrasher]

wow bustr and I thought it was because it really hasnt rained in souther california in a few years.  this year we had only had a few sprinkles same for last year.  If I recall correctly the last time it rained like it's supposed to, was about 7 years ago and I remember because I had to be up in the crane for the whole winter when it rained like hell.


semp

[MWL]

Why California’s Drought Was Completely Preventable

http://tinyurl.com/qehgqlm

Dr. Hanson explains it better than I could.

[guncrasher]

Why California’s Drought Was Completely Preventable

http://tinyurl.com/qehgqlm

Dr. Hanson explains it better than I could.

wow cant believe so much bs can actually fit in one page.



semp

[NatCigg]

looks like sandy soil.  if so, drought stress and nutrient retention could be a problem.  soil test for nutrients and texture. add fertilizer or irrigation as needed.

wet areas can die from flooding in summer heat or ice cover in winter.

some (Most) grass does not spread to fill in dead voids. when its thin, re-seed with kbg and or creeping fescue....  rake soil. add fert. rake soil. add seed. rake soil. compact with roller or cart tire or feet. add water. keep moist. wazoo.

Grass loves sun. no ifs and ors about it.  some types handle shade, sand , drought, flood, ice, cold, heat better than others.

 

[Swoop]

Nah that's just an Indian lawn.....Apache, geddit?  boom boom.

Ahem, I'll get me coat...

[bustr]

wow bustr and I thought it was because it really hasnt rained in souther california in a few years.  this year we had only had a few sprinkles same for last year.  If I recall correctly the last time it rained like it's supposed to, was about 7 years ago and I remember because I had to be up in the crane for the whole winter when it rained like hell.


semp

SoCal runs california due to a crushing majority of democrats who live in SoCal and coastal cities. SoCal purchases a large amount of it's water from the Colorado. And NorCal water if not diverted to the American river for the delta smelt by Federal directive, goes to SoCal. The drought is really in central and NorCal(Repub districts) while LA and the Imperial valley have water, and exporting alfalfa to china. Alfalfa requires more water than it is worth to grow otherwise. SoCal is majority dependent on none local water sources and several almost empty local reservoirs. Or it would revert to the desert it has always been. Lack of rain is not an issue for LA because sacrament is controlled by LA.

The current drought emergency exists because California's government has not kept up with population by creating more reservoirs or building DeSal plants for LA and SF. The moneys Governor Brown wants for a high speed SF to LA rail line is the amount to build a DeSal plant for both cities. Historically California has a drought of some kind about every 5 years after the last one ends. California's population has out stripped the 1930's era water storage and distribution systems. Eco nuts since the 70's have used the courts to keep California from updating it's water storage to meet the current population needs. And it's OK with sacramento if republican voting farmers and ranchers leave the state during the current drought. The drought will end and those farmers and ranchers lands will be up for sale.

The Federal Judge who ruled in favor of the Delta smelt was a republican but, his decision was tied to the clear federal law on the matter. While acknowledging in his ruling California's government created the problem by not updating it's water infrastructure to the current population needs. Obama could have used his pen to give relief to the farmers and ranchers in the central valley who are republican districts.

If NorCal and Arizona cut SoCal off as water sources, LA would turn into a desert or build DeSal plants. Fortunately for LA, sacramento is controlled predominantly by LA. 30% of California's population lives in LA with 60% of California's population living in SoCal. The majority of water for SoCal comes from NorCal and the Colorado river.  Water storage in NorCal was stressed for a state population of 21M in 1974. At 32M today, we have a man made drought any time it doesn't rain. 

[MWL]

wow cant believe so much bs can actually fit in one page.



semp

  I admire your thoughtful, intellectual response.  Perhaps you will change a few minds with your analytic deductions regarding this issue.   

  No need to build reservoirs for future population growth or as a hedge against the dry years - BAH.  No need to prioritize agricultural over saving minnows in the delta.  No need to recharge the aquifer - you can just drill deeper!  Well, until you get below the water table that is.

  How the minnows survived the great droughts of the 17 and 18 hundreds without the human built reservoir system to keep the bay filling with fresh water boggles the mind.

  As you have so artfully articulated, there is no need for future planning - live for today and tomorrow will take care of itself (or not).

[guncrasher]

  I admire your thoughtful, intellectual response.  Perhaps you will change a few minds with your analytic deductions regarding this issue.   

  No need to build reservoirs for future population growth or as a hedge against the dry years - BAH.  No need to prioritize agricultural over saving minnows in the delta.  No need to recharge the aquifer - you can just drill deeper!  Well, until you get below the water table that is.

  How the minnows survived the great droughts of the 17 and 18 hundreds without the human built reservoir system to keep the bay filling with fresh water boggles the mind.

  As you have so artfully articulated, there is no need for future planning - live for today and tomorrow will take care of itself (or not).

well the first paragraph was about people who arent citizens.  how much bs can go after that?



semp

[MWL]

Actually, it is three paragraphs in:

'What is new is that the state has never had 40 million residents during a drought — well over 10 million more than during the last dry spell in the early 1990s. Much of the growth is due to massive and recent immigration.

A record one in four current Californians was not born in the United States, according to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Whatever one’s view on immigration, it is ironic to encourage millions of newcomers to settle in the state without first making commensurately liberal investments for them in water supplies and infrastructure.'

If you, as a state, establish policies that grow the population, then state leadership needs to plan for it.

At any rate, we ain't gonna agree - so back to the lawn show! 

[NatCigg]

ahem... well ok then, sounds good.

Insects could be a problem.  Grubs are growing big right now and could be eating your turfs roots. grab a handful of the turf and pull on it. If it lifts easily your roots are gone.  most likely you will be able to see the many grubs just under the sod.