When it comes to rainfall so far this season, San Diego is way above normal. But, our reservoirs are still far under capacity.
Years of drought in the state have left them so depleted, it is hard to imagine them filling up anytime soon.
Tenille Othero, a spokesman for the San Diego County Water Authority, said "we need enormous amounts of rain, Noah's Ark amounts of rain to make up for the dry spell."
But California's farmers appreciate all the rain they can get. Perhaps no professional group cheered the downpours more than those who grow avocados.
Burnet Wohlford, who runs Heritage Ranch Management, said avocados require far more water than his citrus plants. His ranch in Escondido has a water bill of about $20,000 a month. Another ranch of his cost $40,000 a month.
When it rains, he can stop the sprinklers for at least a month if not more.
The savings could help keep him in business--at least for now.
"This year we've got the smallest crop possible in history--or at least in the last 20 years. Next year, it could be an abundant crop" he said.
But the executive director of the San Diego Farm Bureau, Erik Larsen, is concerned the savings are a "short term band aid" to the problem.
The main issues, he said, is San Diego County's need to import 85 percent of its water and the large water restrictions the state recently enacted.
"Comparatively, there are no farmers in the United States who pay more for irrigation water--we believe--than do farmers in San Diego County" he said. "Farmers are paying $700 to $800 a foot per acre of water where their contemporaries in other parts of the state might be paying as little as $25, $50, or $100 an acre for water."
Larsen wants San Diegans everywhere to start conserving water.
The County's Water Authority agrees. They are suggesting several tips including:
For more tips, go to their website.
