Fast-growing Western cities face megadrought

[TexasTowelie]

In 2002, Utah was reeling from four years of dry conditions that turned the state ‘’into a parched tinderbox,’’ as the Associated Press reported at the time. “Drought Could Last Another 1-2 years,” the headline proclaimed. Right on time, in 2004, the Salt Lake Tribune ran a similar article, on “Coming To Terms with Utah’s Six-Year Drought,” that was “believed to be the worst to strike the Southwest in half a millennium.”

Almost two decades later, the drought has raged on. In October 2019, the water supplier for St. George, a rapidly growing resort and retirement community in southwest Utah, released a statement declaring the city’s longest-ever dry spell: 122 days without rain.

A study published last month in the journal Science identified an emerging megadrought across all or parts of 11 western states and part of northern Mexico — a drought likely, with the influence of climate change, to be more severe and long-lasting than any since the 1500s. The area includes Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California and portions of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

This region is also experiencing explosive population growth — with Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Utah topping the list of states with the highest percentage increase in residents from 2018 to 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For decades, these states and their mushrooming municipalities have been grappling with the twin concerns of rapid growth and dwindling water supply projections. Now, in the midst of an historic megadrought predicted to last many more years, the issue has grown increasingly urgent.

Read more: https://www.hcn.org/articles/drought-fast-growing-western-cities-face-megadrought
(High Country News)

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. There are some books out there that will shed even more light on this.

Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner. It came out some 30 years ago, and so while some things are different now, the way people have moved into the desert, blithely building homes, watering their lawns, and installing swimming pools, is hardly changed.

I know I've read at least a couple of others on this topic, but can't seem to find them with a Google search. I'm sorry.

[Kali]

2. we were headed into a 20 year drought back in the 80's

now heading into the 4th decade of it. I think it is the normal and the wet spells are the anomalies.

[Rstrstx]

3. This is the area in question

Arizona seems to be the most affected.