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Changes needed to save second-largest U.S. reservoir, experts say

Loulit01

Loulit01

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“There’s too little supply and too much demand,” said Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. “Ultimately, I think what we’re going to see here is some major rewriting of Western water law.”'

The snow and rain seen in the west this year isn’t enough to stabilize Lake Powell either, Andrechak said. “Now, the reality is, they’re all going to get a cut. Everybody should give,” he said.

And that must happen this year. The federal government is expected to mandate unilateral cuts this year if all seven states don’t come to an agreement.
“There’s no time left. The crisis is here. They don’t necessarily have to give it up forever. It might be temporary for several years until there’s improvements,” he said. But even if water levels do improve in the future, states cannot expect to return to former water usage entirely.
“Climate change is making sure that it’ll never get back to those levels,” Andrechak said.
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What, me worry?
 
Loulit01 said:

“There’s too little supply and too much demand,” said Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. “Ultimately, I think what we’re going to see here is some major rewriting of Western water law.”'

The snow and rain seen in the west this year isn’t enough to stabilize Lake Powell either, Andrechak said. “Now, the reality is, they’re all going to get a cut. Everybody should give,” he said.

And that must happen this year. The federal government is expected to mandate unilateral cuts this year if all seven states don’t come to an agreement.
“There’s no time left. The crisis is here. They don’t necessarily have to give it up forever. It might be temporary for several years until there’s improvements,” he said. But even if water levels do improve in the future, states cannot expect to return to former water usage entirely.
“Climate change is making sure that it’ll never get back to those levels,” Andrechak said.
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What, me worry?
Click to expand...

Perhaps tens of millions of people in what essentially desert conditions has something to do with it.
 
Progressive pricing of water and energy consumption might be a good start.
I live abroad and my electric bill can have an additional charge or deduction based on how much we consume.
 
Still can't make it rain can they, what a feeble planet of sorcerers we are.
 
Just so long as the Saudis can water their alfalfa for their domestic cows, it’ll all be fine.
 
dmpi said:
I would work the demand side because at least we can control that, unlike the supply.
Click to expand...

Really? Short of demanding that no more people move there, how would you do that?
 
Loulit01 said:

“There’s too little supply and too much demand,” said Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. “Ultimately, I think what we’re going to see here is some major rewriting of Western water law.”'

The snow and rain seen in the west this year isn’t enough to stabilize Lake Powell either, Andrechak said. “Now, the reality is, they’re all going to get a cut. Everybody should give,” he said.

And that must happen this year. The federal government is expected to mandate unilateral cuts this year if all seven states don’t come to an agreement.
“There’s no time left. The crisis is here. They don’t necessarily have to give it up forever. It might be temporary for several years until there’s improvements,” he said. But even if water levels do improve in the future, states cannot expect to return to former water usage entirely.
“Climate change is making sure that it’ll never get back to those levels,” Andrechak said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What, me worry?
Click to expand...
Self inflicted in good part. They could have been cutting usage and conserving for the last decade.
 
Gateman_Wen said:
Self inflicted in good part. They could have been cutting usage and conserving for the last decade.
Click to expand...

Yep, but that would likely accelerate the rate of taxpaying folks leaving the area.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Yep, but that would likely accelerate the rate of taxpaying folks leaving the area.
Click to expand...
Why would that affect them more than homeless folks who barely use any water anyway?
 
Loulit01 said:

“There’s too little supply and too much demand,” said Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. “Ultimately, I think what we’re going to see here is some major rewriting of Western water law.”'

The snow and rain seen in the west this year isn’t enough to stabilize Lake Powell either, Andrechak said. “Now, the reality is, they’re all going to get a cut. Everybody should give,” he said.

And that must happen this year. The federal government is expected to mandate unilateral cuts this year if all seven states don’t come to an agreement.
“There’s no time left. The crisis is here. They don’t necessarily have to give it up forever. It might be temporary for several years until there’s improvements,” he said. But even if water levels do improve in the future, states cannot expect to return to former water usage entirely.
“Climate change is making sure that it’ll never get back to those levels,” Andrechak said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What, me worry?
Click to expand...
Maybe they should stop mandating 10% ethanol, and stop growing corn for fuel there.
 
Gateman_Wen said:
Self inflicted in good part. They could have been cutting usage and conserving for the last decade.
Click to expand...
Actually, most municipalities in the southwest have been cutting their usage for a decade. Some for almost two decades now. And farmers have been reducing their use as well.
 
Lord of Planar said:
Maybe they should stop mandating 10% ethanol, and stop growing corn for fuel there.
Click to expand...
Very little corn is grown with water supplied by the Colorado River. You don't know what you are talking about... as usual.
 
Buzz said:
Very little corn is grown with water supplied by the Colorado River. You don't know what you are talking about... as usual.
Click to expand...
Wow. There you go again drawing first blood. Always jumping in with an insult, then cry when I retaliate in-kind. Do you ever think? I didn't quantify how much. Are you proud of your D-K?

Do you think "how much" is important when we are having water problems, and it might make a significant difference?

According to the Pacific Institute, agriculture consumes 70% of the Colorado Basin water. Don't you think what isn't necessary should be cut out? Do you think ethanol in gasoline is necessary?

pacinst.org

Water to Supply the Land: Irrigated Agriculture in the Colorado River Basin - Pacific Institute

The Colorado River, recently named America’s most endangered river, supports millions of people in the American Southwest and northwest Mexico and helps irrigate millions of acres of land. Yet demands on the river already exceed the river’s average supply, a situation that is projected to get...
pacinst.org pacinst.org

Another source says 80% is used for agriculture:

 
Lord of Planar said:
Maybe they should stop mandating 10% ethanol, and stop growing corn for fuel there.
Click to expand...
Maybe well-to-do people who really like lawns and swimming pools and golf courses should stop moving to desert climates where water has to be piped hundreds of miles to satisfy their entitlement.
 
Grand Mal said:
Maybe well-to-do people who really like lawns and swimming pools and golf courses should stop moving to desert climates where water has to be piped hundreds of miles to satisfy their entitlement.
Click to expand...
I agree with that as well. Even well water is lowering the aquifers.

I wonder how long it will be before my area starts having regular water shortages. About once ever decade or two, we are asked to restrict water usage here. Lasts for a few weeks in the summer, but just the same. Next time we have low snow melt, it may be worse than the last time.
 
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