Community Chat

[BaileyandBella]

I would like to know what they think of our current drought

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/february/nasa-study-finds-carbon-emissions-could-dramatically-increa...

[Kachina624]

I think water is precious, should be carefully used and it's time to shut down big wasters like Las Vegas. Yes, I know they recycle the water in those fountains and on the golf courses, but in a desert climate a huge amount is lost to evaporation.

There are big, high rolling, investors now buying water rights the way they used to buy oil rights, especially in Texas. In Albuquerque they urged people to conserve water. They did such a good job that the water company had to raise its rates to cover the loss in operating revenue.

The last year we had "normal" rainfall was 2006. Normally I'd get about 7" a year at my house. Since 2006, I've gotten less than half that amount annually. Every year seems to be worse than the last.

[BaileyandBella]

I am in So Cal.

Our Fall/Winter started great with lots of rain, but then came to a screeching halt.

[foundinlv]

On 2/15/2015 Kachina624 said:

I think water is precious, should be carefully used and it's time to shut down big wasters like Las Vegas. Yes, I know they recycle the water in those fountains and on the golf courses, but in a desert climate a huge amount is lost to evaporation.

There are big, high rolling, investors now buying water rights the way they used to buy oil rights, especially in Texas. In Albuquerque they urged people to conserve water. They did such a good job that the water company had to raise its rates to cover the loss in operating revenue.

The last year we had "normal" rainfall was 2006. Normally I'd get about 7" a year at my house. Since 2006, I've gotten less than half that amount annually. Every year seems to be worse than the last.

Kachina....what shocked us was there was never a moratorium on building. Instead, just unbridled growth of new homes. We have a schedule that we follow per the water authority to water our lawn but if they made it mandatory that all residences have a desert landscape, I would not be opposed to that. There's already a law about not washing your car on your driveway...one must go to an approved car wash that uses recycled water. And I think we were a little surprised at the continued growth on Las Vegas Blvd....we always thought there were enough rooms for the visitors but I guess not.

[sylviahomeatlast]

We have drought here, it seems continually. But the, it's always been an almost arid climate. We're on the edge of the plains and mountains. After California diverted water from the Colorado River and created Lake POwell for recreation, it hasn't been the same

[Kachina624]

Sylvia, they didn't divert the Colorado River, they damed it to create Lake Powell, then they damed it to create Lake Meade. A reservoir like these lakes has a limited lifespan because the water is full of silt and it settles to the bottom, filling the lake with dirt. I've heard 100 years tossed about as the lifespan of Lake Powell from its inception. Both of these lakes are pitifully low on water right now. I don't see how it would affect Colorado though as the dams are far downstream from Colorado. There is also supposed to be a big to-do about water in the artesian wells in the San Luis Valley...you've probably heard all about that.

[Lila Belle]

The thought is that the current drought will continue.

[bells4me]

I'll ask my brother for you.

[hckynut]

is this because of global warming or climate change?

[esmeraldagooch]

Since when are they forecasting weather in 85 years? Perhaps they should go back to space exploration and leave the weather to NOAA.