Storms haven’t ended drought
Appreciate the rain and weather, but don’t confuse recent storms with an end to the drought. Rain in January does little to alleviate summer drought conditions. Much of the water flows straight into the Pacific Ocean. Even what comes into existing reservoirs may not get stored: When reservoirs reach capacity, they are often required to release stored water in order to avoid dam failure or flooding.
Though rainfall is above average, the recent snow survey released on Jan. 3 showed water content in the Sierra snowpack at only 53 percent of average. Rain in the Sierra in January is abnormal. It should not be flooding; it should be freezing! As a respected newspaper, please connect the dots on climate change to keep people well informed. We need to build understanding of the facts for the needed push to update our water systems (and usage) for future challenges!
Helena Birecki, San Francisco
Poor water policy
The drought will never be over if you’re waiting for groundwater levels to rise. Relentless conversion of deserts to orchards and no state oversight of irrigation wells rules out that scenario. Nor is California able to control the influx of new residents, further straining our water resources. As for me, I’ll continue to enjoy the rain knowing that at least for now, fish can swim, forests can grow, animals can eat and birds have a pond to land in. It’s important to separate real drought from poor water management policies.
Christopher Proud, Berkeley
Support NATO
In light of President-elect Donald Trump’s mockery of the CIA and FBI and his admiration for President Vladimir Putin-style autocracy, I urge Congress to pass a joint resolution reaffirming America’s commitment to NATO and Western democracy. Would he sign off on such a resolution? Just asking.
Dan Eeds, Pinole
Russian distrust
Regarding “Small hope for sanity in Russian relations” ( Jan. 8): While David Talbot is right to advise skepticism about allegations of Russian hacking, he should be even more skeptical of Donald Trump’s overtures toward Russia. Trump is not interested in peace, world harmony or real diplomacy.
If he wants better relations with Russia, we should distrust it. Maybe it’s to increase oil profits from Crimea; maybe it’s to create an alliance against China, or even against Europe. The Axis powers did not join to make the world a better place, and neither are Trump and President Vladimir Putin.
Clyde Leland, Berkeley