California has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water wasters', writes Evan Blake. But agribusiness and water-intensive industries like fracking remain untouched by the restrictions, even though they consume over 90% of the state's water.
There are immense water efficiencies to be gained, but any rational reorganization is blocked by the US financial oligarchy, which, controlling the entire political system, will not abide any impingement on its profits.
The unprecedented drought gripping California has deepened for the fourth consecutive year, having already set new records for the lowest annual precipitation levels on record. 2014 brought the highest calendar-year temperature for the state, while this February was the hottest on record and this January the driest.
A recent study conducted by Daniel Griffin and Kevin J. Anchukaitis found that the current episode "is the most severe drought in the last 1,200 years, with single year (2014) and accumulated moisture deficits worse than any previous continuous span of dry years."
Last month (19th March) California Governor Jerry Brown announced a new bill, which he claims will provide $1 billion in drought-related spending, mostly on flood protection. The bill merely expedites funds already approved by California voters, and will do nothing to resolve the state's dire water crisis.
The following Tuesday, the California State Water Resources Control Board intensified emergency legislation targeting residential "water wasters", initially implemented last summer. The law imposes a $500 fine for offenses including excessive lawn watering.
Both measures leave untouched the giant agribusinesses and oil corporations that account for a majority of the state's water usage and dominate the political system.
Agricultural irrigation image via Shutterstock.
Read more at ENN Affiliate, the Ecologist.