California faces worst drought in decades: ‘Economic disaster’ [Fox News]
After two consecutive dry years, the California drought is back. … California melon farmer Joe Del Bosque called it “an economic disaster.” “We can’t plant crops, we have no jobs, and there will be no food coming from this field this year,” he said. … In an effort to protect wildlife and protect water supplies for drinking, federal and state officials reduced water deliveries to farmers to near zero. In the Central Valley, fields lie fallow and farmers are dismantling orchards.
https://www.foxnews.com/science/california-faces-worst-drought-decades-economic-disaster
A ‘megadrought’ in California is expected to lead to water shortages for production of everything from avocados to almonds, and could cause prices to rise [Business Insider]
A megadrought in California is threatening to push food prices even higher. … As water levels continue to fall, farmers and ranchers will be unable to maintain key crops and feed livestock. … Dave Kranz, a California Farm Bureau spokesperson, told Insider it’s too soon to tell whether the drought will have a significant impact on grocery prices, but it is sure to be a “catastrophic” year for farmers. …”A lot of factors play into the prices people see at stores,” Kranz said. … Any potential price increases do not occur immediately or all at once.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/megadrought-california-expected-lead-water-170454438.html?guccounter=2
No cut to Friant water users – so far [Bakersfield Californian]
Though questions remain about whether San Joaquin Valley towns and farms that rely on water from Millerton Lake could be cut to zero, as they were in the last drought, water managers are moving ahead as if that won’t happen. … History appeared on the verge of repeating in the 2021 drought when the State Water Resources Control Board alerted the Bureau that it needed to keep more water in Shasta for winter-run Chinook salmon. … Then earlier this week, the state Water Board approved a temporary relaxation of required river outflows for water moving through the delta.
Calif. governor seems unlikely to lift worker mask mandate [Associated Press]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared disinclined Friday to insert himself into the regulatory process for workplaces after a state safety board upset business groups by approving new rules that require all workers to wear masks unless everyone around them is vaccinated against the coronavirus. … Critics hadn’t decided if they will push Newsom to override the worksite rules adopted on the second try by the board that sets standards for California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA. “Who knows what Gavin Newsom’s going to do exactly? But I think that this, even revised as they did yesterday, is wildly at variance with what the governor has indicated he wants to do on June 15,” said Bryan Little, California Farm Bureau director of employment policy.
How California’s Salinas Valley went from covid hot spot to a model for vaccination and safety [Washington Post]
… Valadez says his group, having just completed its 13th clinic, has vaccinated 30,000 farmworkers; other clinics at pharmacies and hospitals have vaccinated 15,000 more. … Now, masks and other protective equipment are routine for the roughly 60,000 farmworkers in Salinas Valley, often called “the Salad Bowl of the World.” … In D’Arrigo fields this spring, workers are spaced widely and the field manager periodically spreads his arms out to show the six feet required between workers. Gloves and face coverings are required.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2021/salinas-farmworker-covid-vaccinations/
Biden administration moves to restore protections for endangered wildlife [Wall Street Journal]
The Biden administration is moving to restore protections for endangered animals and plants that were loosened under former President Donald Trump, a move that had triggered lawsuits from environmental groups. In an announcement on Friday, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said they plan to strengthen rules that protect threatened species, including the restoration of an earlier process for designating critical habitat. … Under the Trump administration, wildlife regulators in 2019 weakened protections under the 1973 Endangered Species Act, which extends protections to more than 1,600 plants and animals.
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