Pubdate: Sun, 15 Mar 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Stephen Green

WATER FOR WEED

"Tap California innovators to improve on water policy" (Insight, 
March 8) offered insightful suggestions for improving management of 
California water. Among the suggestions was reducing 
"drought-susceptible crops, like almonds." California almonds use 
nearly 9 percent of the state agricultural water supply, or about 3.5 
million acre-feet. Marijuana cultivation also accounts for 
significant water use, with 60 million gallons per day at peak 
growing season, or double the daily amount consumed by San Francisco. 
And much of the water going to pot farms is diverted illegally.

Last summer, 24 California streams went dry, and some rivers were 
reduced to a succession of ponds. In Mendocino County, pot growers 
were stealing water from fire hydrants in the middle of the night. 
What are state regulators doing to stop the illegal diversion of 
water for pot farms? Next to nothing.

Stephen Green, Fair Oaks, Sacramento County
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom