Today, California officials will gather to measure the state’s snowpack levels, an indication of how much water will be available, and of the state of California’s water at large. It is expected that today’s reading will show the second-lowest April 1 snowpack in California history.

Predictions have been dire due to the past few weeks of unseasonably hot weather – which has been driven by climate change. 

Food & Water Watch California Director Nicole Ghio released the following statement: 

“Fossil fuel driven climate change is threatening our future in a multitude of ways, including making our access to water more perilous. Our planet is getting warmer and California’s weather is getting more extreme, and we are seeing it manifest in our dwindling snowpack. And, our state’s water use continues to be out of alignment with reality with far too much water going to big agribusiness’s tree nuts, alfalfa fields, and factory farms. Without bold action to address the root of the issue – rampant water abuse from fossil fuels and agribusiness – we will continue to experience historically low snowpack.”

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Background

California water use is out of alignment with available resources, which will only get worse with climate change. 

According to research from Food & Water Watch: 

• In 2025, California’s alfalfa farms consumed an estimated 538 billion gallons of water. This is equivalent to 38% of California’s Colorado River allocation and could supply the combined populations of Los Angeles and San Diego with water for about 6 and a half years. 

• In 2022, California’s 1.7 million mega-dairy cows consumed 55.5 billion gallons of water. This is enough to supply 1.4 million households with their annual indoor water needs.

• In California, the average acre-feet applied per acre of agricultural land is 2.9 AF/acre, over 90% higher than the US average.

For this reason, Food & Water Watch has called for bold action to protect California’s water, which includes stopping any new tree nut development, mega dairies, and fossil fuels.