Letter from California (Part II)

Dear Reader,

In my last letter, I wrote about the water conservation measures I have taken at home as the mega-drought here in California rages on with no end in sight. Although I am happy to have incorporated these practices into my daily life—I find them easy enough to do—ordinary citizens like myself do not consume the majority of water in this state. To put some of the numbers below into perspective, the average American family consumes about 110,000 gallons of water per year.

The current state of affairs in California

• Agriculture consumes 80 percent of our water supply. We grow nearly half the country’s fruit, vegetables and nuts. Our top agricultural exports are almonds, dairy and dairy products and wine, all water hogs. Unlike a field that grows crops of broccoli, corn or potatoes and can go fallow, almond trees and grape vines require watering even during drought years. The alfalfa…