In developed countries, most people are probably not thinking about how valuable a commodity fresh water truly is. Being able to take showers and baths every day, having access to pools and freshly watered lawns is a privilege that might appear to be guaranteed. But appearances can certainly be deceiving.
Issues surrounding water rights and water shortages are found all over the world. But America’s West Coast, California in particular, is facing a momentous problem: one of the most severe droughts in its state history, the worst in nearly 500 years. California is the most populous state in America, a hub for economic and agricultural growth. Its industries reach around the entire United States and beyond. Water is the foundation for life itself, a necessary ingredient for living and thriving alike.
Shasta Lake Feb 4, 2014 as of this article Shasta Lake is at 33 Capacity
Without fresh water, it’s easy to see why serious complications can arise.In January 2014, due to the extended drought, which is now entering its third year, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in California. The previous dry periods of 1987 to 1991 and the drought in 1976-77 are comparatively less severe than this current ongoing drought. Not to mention, population growth and industry growth has exacerbated the need for more fresh water. The state is now short more than a year’s worth of reservoir water. Because of this, prices on fruits and vegetables are rising; food prices are expected to continue their rise of up to 3.5 percent for the rest of 2014. Small-time family farmers in places such as California’s lucrative San Joaquin Valley are fearing bankruptcy due to a lack of fresh crops. California is in need of rain badly.
It’s not just California facing water shortages on the West Coast. The Hoover Dam is the first of its kind--a landmark, once the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world. It provides electricity to more than 8 million people throughout Arizona, Nevada, and California. Now , with severe water shortages, the historic Dam suffers. Water levels have reached all-time lows since the dam's dedication in 1935. Formed by the Hoover Dam and and located on the Colorado River, Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. But it no longer reaches that capacity due to pervasive drought. Once teeming with life, Lake Mead is now arid and cracked, home to four endangered wildlife species and abandoned marinas. The everlasting drought chooses not to spare small farmers and monumental
American Icons alike.
Datasource:National Drought Mitigation Center. 2014. Maps and data. http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData.aspx For more information visit
U.S. EPA's "Climatechange indicators
in the United States"
www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators
