Should the current drought extend for another two or three years, most California cities and much of the state's agriculture would be able to manage, but the toll on small rural communities dependent on well-water and on wetlands and wildlife could be extensive.
That was the assessment of a new study from the Public Policy Institute of California, released late Tuesday.
...the report cautions that “it would not be prudent to count on El Nino to end the drought.”
— LA Times
The report is titled "What if the drought continues?" Apparently, this is quite possible. If the drought extends 2 or 3 years, the report notes, agriculture and urban areas should be able to scrape by. But, like with other ecological crises, the worst will be experienced by lower-income, rural communities. In addition, some 18 species of native fish could face extinction, and migratory waterfowl would experience much higher rates of mortality.
For more coverage on California's drought:
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