My Beloved California

My beloved California is in trouble.  We are facing our 4th straight year of extremely dry climates.  We are travelers here at The Simple Proof family.  There is no place we like to explore more than our home state of California.  But things are looking a bit different this year.  Grasses can be seen browning in June, some rivers are nearly empty, lakes are at historic lows, but California beauty and culture is still alive and well.  I’ve felt compelled to write about this topic for two years now.  It’s dear to me from a political and environmental perspective.  So many talk about our water shortage as if it were only a matter of climate change, others mention the over zealous use of water by residences across the state in its driest regions, and another perspective is that of the agriculture produced here in California which not only feeds Californians, but Americans across the country and even worldwide.

So what do we do?  Many in the field much more knowledgable that I, have theories on the best way to recover, maintain, and move foreword.  I’ve read numerous articles depicting numbers for where the majority of our water is used, or transported.  Articles optimistically describing an upcoming “El Niño” year ahead leave many of us hopeful for a reprieve.  But one article written by a local blogger about perception, left me with thinking about the judgements placed on Californians in times like these especially interesting on the eve of California’s biggest tourist season.  Her article is informative to Californians and those traveling to California this summer.  The following quote about what you as a traveler can do while visiting California this summer is from lifestyle blog, This is My Happiness written by Jenna Francisco.

If you’re traveling in California, please respect our situation by doing everything you can to conserve water during your stay. Because you’re not going to be worried about household water use in most cases, there aren’t many big things you can do, but little actions definitely make a difference, too.

• take showers of less than 5 minutes, turn the water off while washing hair, or opt for a bath instead (but don’t fill up the tub!)
• flush the toilet less often (when reasonable, of course)
• be mindful of the water you’re using while washing hands or brushing your teeth
• if you see water waste, get the address, Google the city website and report it. Water waste includes broken sprinklers, sprinklers that are spreading water to non-grassy areas, and outdoor watering during the day.

If you’re staying in a vacation rental, conserve water:

• run the dishes on a quick cycle or wash by hand while using water very sparingly
• catch water while draining veggies and fruit in a container and use that water to water plants
• if there’s a bucket around, use it in the shower to catch the cold water while waiting for hot water, then use this water to the flush the toilet later
• do laundry only when you have a full load
• don’t use water outside at all

More reading on the drought in our 4th year, what you can do to save water, and landscape design with water saving ideas.

Wishing everyone safe and happy summer travels.  Tread lightly my friends.

top image credit | brian wallace

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