VERY GRIM NEWS VIA TOM DISPATCH ON A MULTI-YEAR DROUGHT THAT HAS CAUSED SOME PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES TO LITERALLY RUN OUT OF WATER: USA Today reports on the drought thats officially gripping about half of the country and that has, in some states like Texas, been devastatingly underway for years. Recently, extreme flooding in the Midwest has been the focus of the weather reporting, but the present drought is a terrible one and its getting remarkably little attention, despite what its likely to do to crops (and so prices in the grocery store) -- and despite the fact that extreme weather is increasingly the hallmark of our new globally warmed world. Here are the two worst states at present. Tom 2. Nevada > Pct. severe drought: 87.0% > Pct. extreme drought: 38.7% (5th highest) > Pct. exceptional drought: 8.2% (4th highest) Nearly 40% of Nevada was covered in extreme drought last week, among the highest rates in the country. The drought in the state has worsened since the week of April 15, when 33.5% of the state was covered in extreme drought. According to the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), the main cause of the drought this year has been below average snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. Melting snow from the Rocky Mountains eventually flows into Lake Mead, which provides most of the Las Vegas Valley with water. John Entsminger, head of both the LVVWD and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said that the effects of the drought on the state has been every bit as serious as a Hurricane Katrina or a Superstorm Sandy. 1. California > Pct. severe drought: 100.0% > Pct. extreme drought: 76.7% (the highest) > Pct. exceptional drought: 24.8% (2nd highest) California had the nations worst drought problem with more than 76% of the state experiencing extreme drought as of last week. Drought in California has worsened considerably in recent years. Severe drought conditions covered the entire state, as of last week. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency earlier this year as the drought worsened. California had 465,422 hired farm workers in 2012, more than any other state. Farm workers would likely suffer further if conditions persist. The shortage of potable water has been so severe that California is now investing in long-term solutions, such as desalination plants. A facility that is expected to be the largest in the Western hemisphere is currently under construction in Southern California, and another desalination facility is under consideration in Orange County.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 17:01:39 +0000
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