Western Drought May Be Worst In 500 Years

[hatrack]

LAS VEGAS - "The drought gripping the West could be the biggest in 500 years, with effects in the Colorado River basin considerably worse than during the Dust Bowl years, according to scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey. “That we can now say with confidence,” said Robert Webb, lead author of a background paper released Thursday. “Now I’m completely convinced.”

On Friday, the U.S. Climatic Data Center added its voice, saying that 67 percent of the western United States was in moderate to extreme drought at the end of this spring. The Colorado River in particular has been in a drought for the entire decade, cutting an important source of water for millions of people across the West, including Southern California.

EDIT

The report said the drought has produced the lowest flow in the Colorado River on record, with an adjusted annual average flow of only 5.4 million acre-feet at Lees Ferry, Ariz., during the period 2001-2003. By comparison, during the Dust Bowl years, between 1930 and 1937, the annual flow averaged about 10.2 million acre-feet, the report said.

EDIT

The report said the river had its highest flow of the 20th century from 1905 to 1922, the years used to estimate how much water Western states would receive under the Colorado River Compact. The 1922 compact should now be reconsidered because of the uncertain water flow, said Steve Smith, a regional director for the Wilderness Society."

EDIT

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5239212/

[hunter]

1. This is dead on...

...and it is not good.

The Southwest I remember as a kid no longer exists, especially the riparian environments. The same thing is happening along the California shore. San Diego looks like Baja did, and so on as you move north.

The climates I knew as a kid are changing, I can see it myself.

[NNadir]

2. Climate Change is the one of the most serious risks humanity has

ever faced. Effects like this could be just the beginning.

The problem is that humanity doesn't seem willing to be serious about dealing with the matter. It's either deer in the headlights, hopelessness or head in the sand.

The worst of it is to have a completely useless and contemptable human being in the White House...and to think we almost has President Gore seated in office...

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

[IrateCitizen]

3. What do you expect building golf courses in the middle of a desert?

Seriously, the American Southwest has used up water like it's a bottomless resource over the past 30 years or so. Only now they're finding that there isn't exactly enough water to support all those green lawns, swimming pools and golf courses out there.

I'm thoroughly convinced that in about 20-25 years, Arizona will be largely without water. Then, all of the people living there will be scratching their heads, wondering why they can no longer water their lawns five days out of the week. Las Vegas will become a ghost town. You'll have "free marketeers" talking about piping water in from the Great Lakes. It will be a great big shit sandwich, and there will still be little talk of the wastefulness and lack of foresight that actually got us to that point.

[TX-RAT]

4. Here in west TX we're having a mild wet summer

I'm 4" above the rainfall this time last year. I have 3 ponds on my place that have over flowed twice this year.

[hatrack]

5. How far west? I know DFW got pounded with rain earlier this summer

I'd say pop a top, slap a mosquito or two and count your blessings! ;-)

[TX-RAT]

6. Absolutely

We take any moisture we can get.
We are 300 miles west.