Consequences Of Severe Drought And Climate Change Ripple Across California - NBC News

[The Jungle 1]

7. I live in Pa.

I have a 100 foot well and the water is within ten feet of the surface year around. I can turn the pump off and the water still flows into my house. We get plenty of rain presently. That could change with climate change. Unknown to many people farming is the largest industry in Pa. In Pa. you need 1 acres to support 1 cow / steer . In California you need 10 - 12 acres to support 1 cow / steer.
So we agree that farming needs to be done where the water and growing season allows. Pumping ground water to feed nut trees and cows is not a good use of water. That is not sustainable and the water will be used up. Lettuce is 96% water.
Farming is environmentally destructive and always has been. Just plowing a field destroys the environment of many animals, plants and insects.
We are past the point of hunter gatherer so we must farm. The question is how much impact we deem allowable. Or how much impact will allow us to continue into the future. I don't know the answer to that so I will depend on science. Problem is our republican neighbors do not believe science.