Water squeeze developing in Vegas [View all]
Interesting comments thread.
For the past 13 years, the desert Southwest has withstood the ravages of a debilitating drought. As difficult as it has been, this crisis has brought out the best in problem-solving and cooperation among the seven states that share the Colorado River, their federal partners and Mexico. Agreements to share in the shortages and use existing facilities in ways that benefit everyone would have been inconceivable 20 years ago.
It also has brought out the best in the citizens of Southern Nevada, who have shown the world that a prosperous desert community can conserve one-third of its water use and bring its residential water footprint down to 75 gallons per person per day. Our community has also been willing to reach into its pocket and fund facilities that were never necessary when the river was healthy.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not willing to stop her assault on the Colorado River. The latest water numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are not good. In fact, they are downright awful. Unless there is a miraculous improvement in the Rocky Mountain runoff within the next 10 months or so, Lake Mead could dip below its all-time low next summer and reach shortage levels by the end of 2014.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/aug/25/climate-change-reflected-lake-mead/
Today’s guest author is Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Patricia Mulroy.
Las Vegas is making plans to mine northern Nevada's ground water and ship it south. There will be a fight over that.
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