Calif. drought has long-term implications
By Gloria Goodale, Christian Science Monitor
As California faces the worst drought in its 163-year history with no hint of relief in sight, some scientists are calling the event a red flag for the future of the nation.
Gov. Jerry Brown raised the issue in his State of the State address Wednesday, saying “we do not know how much our current problem derives from the build-up of heat-trapping gasses, but we can take this drought as a stark warning of things to come.”
Water shortages have widespread impacts. Agriculture and energy generation account for 80 percent of the nation’s clean water use, says David Dzombak, head of Carnegie Mellon University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. And even when cities meet their water demands during a drought, the costs can leave them “exposed to significant risk of financial failures,” says Patrick Reed, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell University, in an email.
In that way, crises can led to new policies and new attitudes, and some say the California drought could be just such a catalyst.
“At the state, regional, and federal level, and across the country, people are just starting to come to grips with the fact that our climate is not stationary,” says Dzombak. “We are in a dynamic, changing climate situation that will affect all parts of the country in different ways,” he says, led by the West and Southwest so impacted by drought.
“we do not know how much our current problem derives from the build-up of heat-trapping gasses…”
Is he referring to the hot air coming out of the White House or the exhaust from Algore’s private jet?
Wonder when California will install the pipeline to take water from Tahoe?
Yup, there goes bitterclingercjpubworks saying his lines brought to you by fox noise and rush. Wonder if he has any original thoughts in his delusional head
We should be aware that there is talk about taking water from Tahoe for other parts of the state. you should also be aware that Moonbeam Brown is trying to hook the American River to the Central Valley water canal to send more of our water to Southern California, we should do all possible to stop this.
Oldtimer, please give us some proof to back you’re statements. Or are you just using some obscure rumor that you heard from a friend of a friend of a friend?
And just an FYI, that “canal” is called the California Aqueduct. The fact that you called it the Central Valley water canal makes your statement highly suspicious of containing any fact.
Hey BITTER! I didn’t know your House was White. And your whining envy about somebody with a Jet Airplane is really pathetic.
Hey HMMM! Lake Tahoe is a Federal body of water controlled by the US Bureau of Reclamations.
Hey OLDTIME! It is California water for all Californians; there is no North or South California. Most of the water rights for usage come from the Water Commission Act of 1914.
Don’t you people know how to use a search engine?
“hot air coming out of the White House or the exhaust from Algore’s private jet?”
Maybe, but there is no problem with the science.
Oh that’s right, you don’t do science.
Hey Rock4Tahoe, you make a very good point! Maybe we do need to make a North and South California.
Im all for the tea baggers all inheriting texas and having it become its own country. It would be hilarious watching all the flat earth believers try to live together without rules, laws, standards, or consequences. They would last through a few big shoot outs then they would all die from thirst. Last man standing wins…
HEY GP! Good luck with that North – South thing.