AZ TV Anchor Apparently Stunned By "How Quickly!" Impacts Of 20-Year Drought Will Manifest

[hatrack]

?t=90

Above, incredulous Phoenix newscaster hears for the first time the gravity of the water crisis in Arizona. Science plays out whether you understand it or not.

Lake Mead and Lake Powell, two huge reservoirs, can only recover with massive snowpack melting. This close to summer that seems less and less likely.

A challenge is that, with a long term drought and high temperatures, even if snow pack does increase, runoff will be more rapidly sucked up by the parched landscape before it can replenish the lakes.

EDIT

https://climatecrocks.com/2022/05/09/arizonas-5-alarm-water-crisis/

Arizona water authorities are bracing for additional cuts to the quantity of water supplied by the Colorado River, prompting calls for more aggressive conservation measures to prevent further reductions. Officials in Arizona state predict that these cuts could come as soon as August, the Phoenix NBC Affiliate 12 News reported Friday.

These expected cuts stem from the effects of a decades-long megadrought, which has been greatly exacerbated by the climate crisis. Moreover, the Colorado River, which provides water to almost 40 million people, has been imperiled due to decades of overuse. The river’s reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have seen worsening declines in their water levels.

Arizona is typically granted 2.8m acre-feet of water from the Colorado River. The US Bureau of Reclamation, which manages water and hydropower in the south-west, declared its first water shortage in 2021; federal mandates and state-based efforts resulted in Arizona leaving 500,000 acre-feet “behind Hoover Dam” this year, according to AZCentral.com.

EDIT

Buschatzke said that if water from the Rocky Mountain snowpack does not boost the reservoirs in 2023, a more serious shortage could impact Arizona cities’ water supplies. “Look at all of those factors and it’s probably time to start doing something at the homeowner level or the business level,” Buschatzke told AZCentral. “I can’t dictate that, but I might urge those folks to consider doing that.” Officials said that Arizona homeowners are not likely to see “dry taps” anytime soon, as there have been initiatives to store unused Colorado River water in underground aquifers. However, it’s possible that cities will consider tapping these reserves for outdoor purposes, which could start depleting them – without any clear path to replenishing the water, AZCentral.com reported.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/07/arizona-water-cuts-megadrought-colorado-river

[Vogon_Glory]

1. A lot of us have tried to warn southwestern residents about the consequences of climate change

and it’s effect on water supplies. We were ridiculed or ignored by right-wingers, ignored by easily-distracted lame-stream corporate media as well as the local politicos.

So here it is, folks. Right in your face. Right in your empty water taps.

Can’t blow it off now, can you?

[sop]

2. "You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." - Ayn Rand

Apparently, Ayn Rand - the shining light of those on the right who believe "unfettered self-interest is good and altruism is destructive" - didn't take into account the disastrous effects of unfettered self-interest on things like water supply.

[Scrivener7]

3. tfg got 49% of the vote in Arizona in 2020.

[gay texan]

4. Problem-schoblem

Sounds like s perfect excuse to keep building Mcmansions in Las Vegas!!!

Which is precisely what they are doing.....