Tweet
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/m...f-arizona.html
The libertarians will say that I'm missing the big picture, that no regulation is always the best way, but I'm not so sure. The Saudis, having sucked their own aquifers dry, come to Arizona to grow their alfalfa. When the water table drops, they have the money to dig deeper wells. The homeowners and ranchers that can't afford to do the same? They're out of luck.
It takes a gallon of water to produce an almond. California growers want all the cheap water they can get so that they can ship almonds to Asia. If that leaves local watersheds high and dry because of diversions, well too bad.
The libertarians will say that I'm missing the big picture, that no regulation is always the best way, but I'm not so sure. The Saudis, having sucked their own aquifers dry, come to Arizona to grow their alfalfa. When the water table drops, they have the money to dig deeper wells. The homeowners and ranchers that can't afford to do the same? They're out of luck.
It takes a gallon of water to produce an almond. California growers want all the cheap water they can get so that they can ship almonds to Asia. If that leaves local watersheds high and dry because of diversions, well too bad.
Comment