[lost_tourist]

Having lived in Utah rural areas for "a while", they will have to have a dust bowl 2.0 in the ag area to be brought to their senses, it's that simple. No amount of logic or begging from liberals will change that. Reality has to set in

[timmytokyo]

You see a similar effect in California, where farms continue to grow almonds and pistachios, highly profitable crops that require ridiculous amounts of water. Although some farms have starting switching away from these crops as water prices have soared, you can still see nut orchard after nut orchard as you drive through the central valley. Moreover, Big Ag is fighting tooth and nail to prevent any restrictions on water usage, claiming that dams are the only answer. Maybe try switching to a more sustainable crop? But that would mean less profit.

[rootusrootus]

> almonds and pistachios, highly profitable crops that require ridiculous amounts of water

I thought that was a bit overblown, that there are several common crops worse than almonds? Such as alfalfa, if I'm remembering correctly.

[lazide]

The Antelope Valley Aquifer in California has had thousands of feet of ground water depleted growing Alfalfa. It’s part of the Mojave Desert.

There used to be artesian springs over much of it, now the ground water is over 2500 feet below ground, and starting to be widely contaminated with arsenic.

It’s pretty mind blowing, frankly. This was generally all done via wells sunk on private property.

There has been ongoing litigation to get this under control for several decades that is starting to finally result in action.

[LargoLasskhyfv]

https://medium.californiasun.co/san-joaquin-valley-californi... <- second picture with the large pole and the signs on it is... impressive/instructive?

[lazide]

Yup - though different, larger acquifer.

[rootusrootus]

It seems like the way we handle water rights has to change.