This view of Lake Mead was taken last July 26, 2007 during the seventh straight year of drought that had caused the lake to drop more than 100 feet to its lowest level since the late 1960s.The following article was in the national news, not our local Las Vegas paper. As far as Las Vegas is concerned there is no water problem. Builders continue to build many homes far out into the desert, casinos keep on getting bigger and bigger. Go along the strip and the neighborhoods and you'll see lush green grass and plenty of trees and flowers.
From MSNBC,"What are the chances that Lake Mead, a key source of water for more than 22 million people in the Southwest, would ever go dry? A new study says it's 50 percent by 2021 if warming continues and water use is not curtailed. The experts estimated that the Colorado River system which feeds Lake Mead and Lake Powell, is seeing a net deficit of nearly 1 million acre-feet of water per year — an amount that can supply some 8 million people. That water is not being replenished, they noted, and human demand, evaporation and human-induced climate change are fueling the growing deficit.Lake Mead straddles the Arizona-Nevada border. Aqueducts carry water from the system to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other communities."
The reduction in water levels due to drought on Lake Mead can be seen by the white ring around the shore at Hoover Dam in this photo from November 2007.
Last week this entire marina was moved to another section of Lake Mead because of low water levels. Some newer housing communities are restricting grass and trees, encouraging more of a desert landscaping. Older communities are fighting back telling the government until they start restricting growth in the area, they will continue to use the water any way they want to.
I wonder where all the builders of these massive subdivisions will be when the water runs dry.
2 comments:
interesting...and very sad post. I feel bad for people who just don't get 'it' quite yet. Desert living = no kentucky blue grass. sheesh!
there are so many beautiful desert plants and xeric gardens are awesome!
anyway- I read an article last night about the colorado river. It was a talk with a few IMAX flim makers who are doing a new 3d film of the grand canyon and what dams, greedy water use, and drought has done to the rivers ecosystem. looks really REALLY cool- (the cameras they had to use to shoot in 3d are these massive lugs) anyway- good post!
You could move your business here and work. I'm sure you could provide a lot of landscaping tips to save water.
Let me know when you hear of the release of the movie about the Colorado Rive. Sounds like a good movie.
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