Pray for Rain

The Foster City lagoon, fed from rainwater, shows the effects of drought.

As if the coronavirus and wildfires aren't enough, California is experiencing a record drought.

California drought: Bay Area, state hit 126-year lows for rainfall this year

The Bay Area got only 9.88 inches of rain this season, 39% of its normal amount of 25.28 inches, Golden Gate Weather Services said. That’s the least ever, going back to 1895.

California got 11.46 inches, or 49% of its normal 23.61 inches. That’s also the least ever...

The years of low rainfall were similar to what California went through in the mid-1970s, [meteorologist Jan] Null said.

The dearth of water will have its greatest effect on agriculture, which accounts for 80% of water use in the state. Household use makes up only 10% of water usage, he said.

One of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced regions in the world cannot provide basic services like water and electricity to its residents.

The methodology already exists--building hydroelectric dams and desalination plants--to alleviate the shortages. The finances can be mustered, as demonstrated by the $billions that have been raised for homelessness and high-speed rail. Even the usual environmental show-stoppers can be over-ridden, as in the case of building high-rises in dense urban centers.

The necessity is there; all that's missing is the desire and the will.

Meanwhile, we do what people have done for thousands of years and pray for rain.