Is moving columbia river water to california a good idea? (San Jose: gated, estate)

[neutrino78x]

We need solar desalination. The idea is to use the heat of the sun to evaporate sea water and then condense it back to fresh water. Or the other method is conventional desalination using solar power for electricity to heat the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_desalination

We have a lot of water in California, an ocean of it. We just have to convert it for human use.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

We need solar desalination. The idea is to use the heat of the sun to evaporate sea water and then condense it back to fresh water. Or the other method is conventional desalination using solar power for electricity to heat the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_desalination

We have a lot of water in California, an ocean of it. We just have to convert it for human use.

Sure. Make human existence more and more crowded and reliant on technologically complex systems. As opposed to simply and sustainably not having a problem to begin with.

[neutrino78x]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

Sure. Make human existence more and more crowded and reliant on technologically complex systems. As opposed to simply and sustainably not having a problem to begin with.

Solar power is sustainable. The Sun will be around for several billion more years. Solar power doesn't pollute either.

By the time we get close to being overpopulated will have already started moving people off Earth to populate the solar system. Terraforming Mars will give us another planet to hold another 7 billion. Then you have living in the clouds of Venus. If we can ever actually terraform Venus, that's a third planet to hold another 7 billion. So in 500-1000 years the human population will probably be around 21 billion. Of course, 1000 years is plenty of time to populate the other rocky bodies in the solar system, such as moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and the large number of bodies in the Kuiper Belt, so it could be 30 billion or more. And we'll probably have time to start exploring neighboring stars in that time frame, and possibly start populating another earth like planet orbiting another star, so that's another 7 billion right there.

This will be a great thing because life is the greatest thing that has ever happened in the universe, especially intelligent life, and we can spread it throughout the galaxy.

[David Pierro]

It's understandable that those not from California, especially those from the Pacific Northwest, should be critical or resistant to the idea of shipping water from their magnificent Columbia River. If I didn't live in California I'd probably lash out at California too for its many faults; and yet, tell me of one section of the country which is not guilty of using some resource in a wasteful or irresponsible manner? I do not excuse California for not having implemented a much stronger long term strategy to use the water resources within our state to best advantage. But we are making progress. Besides having the finest aqueduct system in the country to move water around the state, our farmers are utilizing drip irrigation for more and more crops. They are also dropping mores heavy water usage crops such as cotton and alfalfa. In cities such as Fresno water rationing (where you may only water your lawn and landscaping on certain days) has been going on for well over 20 years.
I believe in recycling water also; but, there are limitations as to where water fresh from a sewage plant is acceptable. I also would like to see massive desalination plants; but, plants that are massive, efficient and economical enough to build and operate await a dream energy source such as nuclear fusion. Hopefully, our scientists and engineers will make a long awaited breakthrough soon (during the 1960s it was believed that the taming of nuclear fusion for power plants etc. would be a reality by the 21st century) and yet here we are more than a decade into the new century -- and no word of a desperately needed nuclear fusion breakthrough. Meanwhile, our water situation grows more dire. So I still look toward the Coumbia River as a possible solution to help ease California's water needs. Of course, if we can't provide Washington and Oregon an attractive plan in which their water rights for now and in the future will take precedence over any shipments of water to California, we have no possibility of moving a Columbia - California plan off the starting line.
As regards the polution of the Columbia by the Hanford nuclear processing complex, there must be one or more places to which the hazardous materials can be moved which is a much less sensitive area.
At the very least, I would like to see in-depth discussions of the merits, or demerits, of a Coumbia - California plan; I would like to see legal, environmental and technical people lay out in plain sight the challenges to be met and overcome to bring such a plan to fruition from their respective positions. If the general conclusion from such a broad discussion is that such an aqueduct is undesirable or impractical, I would be willing to lay aside such an idea.

[DMenscha]

You know, if they just built a dam across the Columbia just below where the Willamette River joins it, the pipeline could be way shorter.

You know I'm kidding, right?

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

Solar power is sustainable. The Sun will be around for several billion more years. Solar power doesn't pollute either.

Yes. The sun's rays are sustainable and non-polluting. Very good. But what we do to manufacture the capture, the storage, the transmission - and most importantly, what we do with the power gained to support a good 6 billion people already more than the planet can sanely sustain - is altogether different. No, this many people is not sustainable. And thus the power to feed, clothe, transport, house, and amuse us only fuels the catastrophic events.

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

By the time we get close to being overpopulated will have already started moving people off Earth to populate the solar system. Terraforming Mars will give us another planet to hold another 7 billion. Then you have living in the clouds of Venus. If we can ever actually terraform Venus, that's a third planet to hold another 7 billion. So in 500-1000 years the human population will probably be around 21 billion. Of course, 1000 years is plenty of time to populate the other rocky bodies in the solar system, such as moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and the large number of bodies in the Kuiper Belt, so it could be 30 billion or more. And we'll probably have time to start exploring neighboring stars in that time frame, and possibly start populating another earth like planet orbiting another star, so that's another 7 billion right there.

This will be a great thing because life is the greatest thing that has ever happened in the universe, especially intelligent life, and we can spread it throughout the galaxy.

Oh well then. Silly me, huh.

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by David Pierro

Is moving columbia river water to california a good idea?

No.

[it's absurd]

[xPlorer48]

As long as your state government encourages illegal aliens to "immigrate" to California, then this 5th generation Washingtonian says, "he!!, no!!!!!!!!!

Why on earth do you think we should export a resource to you? I am sure Wyoming isn't happy that Nevada and Utah help themselves to the Green River (flows from Green River Lakes to join Colorado River dammed to form Lakes Mead and Powell). And, Colorado probably wishes that it kept more of its namesake river. The Columbia River doesn't even flow to California let alone any tributaries. Geez, you people are so full of yourselves.

[lucknow]

Originally Posted by NewbiePoster

First of all, you'd have to talk to WA and OR about that, and get them to ok it. Good luck. They might agree to it if it's on an annual contract only.

Secondly, it's only a temp fix. Water's going to be drying up all over. WA and OR have ranches, orchards and farms along the Columbia. They'll need the water as it becomes more scarce.

Not only that. The Columbia falls under the jurisdiction of the Joint International joint commission between Canada and the USA. You need Canadian permission to do anything with the Columbia. If you think that is ridiculous, just consider if that were not the case and we did not need US permission, Canada could do anything to the river within Canada, including reducing the flow to a trickle into the USA.

[GraniteStater]

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