CATCH THE BUZZ Dry year in California

CATCH THE BUZZ

A dry year in California will affect pollination businesses everywhere.

A water shortage in California almond growing country this spring will have ripple effects in pollination businesses in every state for the rest of the year. When almond contracts were paying premium prices because there was ample water but a shortage, or preceived shortage of colonies for pollination, and the price of almonds was high and looking to get higer, rental prices were high enough for beekeepers to head west. They could stay for the winter, pollinate almonds in the spring, and then head back home to make honey. With excess colonies in California this year due to trees coming out of production, and lots of healthy colonies looking for a pollination home, crops down the road, both figurtively and seasonally will have to look twice at colony availability and crop demand. Wise beekeepers are already looking ahead to see what this change may bring and adjusting their movements accordingly.

The following is from Central Valley Business Times, released today...

The Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) second snow survey of the winter season indicates snow water content is 61 percent of normal for the date statewide, the department says Thursday.

“The low precipitation in January and snowpack results from today’s survey indicate California is heading for a third dry year,” says DWR Director Lester Snow. “We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history. It’s imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately at home and in their businesses.”

Manual survey results were taken at four locations near Lake Tahoe, and combined with electronic readings, indicate a statewide snowpack water content of 61 percent (49 percent in the Northern Sierra, 63 percent in the Central Sierra, and 68 percent in the Southern Sierra.)

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Last year at this time, snowpack was 111 percent of normal, but the driest spring on record followed resulting in a second consecutive dry water year.

Local water agencies are updating Urban Water Management Plans, and DWR is facilitating what water transfers may be available through its Drought Water Bank program. Many providers have already enacted mandatory or voluntary water rationing and it is likely more agencies will require some form of rationing if dry conditions persist.

Storage in California’s major reservoirs is low. Lake Oroville, the principal storage reservoir for the State Water Project (SWP), is at 28 percent of capacity, and 43 percent of average storage for this time of year.

With only two months left in what is normally the wettest part of the season, it is growing increasingly unlikely that enough precipitation will fall to end the drought, DWR says.

Continuing dry conditions and regulatory agency restrictions on Delta water exports are limiting water deliveries to farms and urban areas, the department says. A “Biological Opinion” from the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect salmon and steelhead is expected in March and is the latest action that may further reduce pumping capability.

DWR’s early estimate is that it will only be able to deliver 15 percent of requested State Water Project water this year to the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast and Southern California.

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