Profiteers Cashing In on Nation's Catastrophic Water Crisis

[Judi Lynn]

Published on Monday, July 7, 2014 by Common Dreams

Profiteers Cashing In on Nation's Catastrophic Water Crisis

In face of historic drought, nation's largest aquifers and reservoirs drying up

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer



America's food growing regions face a crisis of "catastrophic" proportions as historic drought continues to drive the nation's largest water reserves to record lows. Amidst the shortages, private landowners are facing harsh criticism for seeking profits from this dwindling public resource.

“We’re headed for a brick wall at 100 miles per hour,” said James Mahan, a scientist at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service lab in Lubbock, Texas. “And, really, the effects of climate change are branches hitting the windshield along the way.”

Mahan was specifically referring to the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer, an underground reserve that spreads 111.8 million acres across eight states and provides water to much of Texas as well as to the millions of acres of farmland that make up "America's Breadbasket." According to NBC News, after years of "punishing drought" and chronic mismanagement, the Ogallala now faces "catastrophic depletion," with profound implications for the millions worldwide fed by the farms which rely on the aquifer.

The draining of the Ogallala is also indicative of what is happening to water sources across the western United States.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/07/07-3

[blue sky at night]

1. All I can say is...

leave the Great Lakes alone...if you want our water then move back where it is.

[Demeter]

2. Amen!

And keep your wasteful California ways out of our state!

[4139]

3. California should be building desalination plants instead of high speed rail

[defacto7]

5. They may.

It has been discussed. It's also been discussed that it may be possible to do both seeing they have a surplus at the moment. Wasteful they are not. Productive and tax wise they do seem to be. It doesn't mean they are protected from climate change though.

[4139]

6. A. They are, B. They are 2 decades behind

Nation's largest ocean desalination plant goes up near San Diego; Future of the California coast?

By Paul Rogers [e-mail]

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_25859513/nations-largest-ocean-desalination-plant-goes-up-near

But all-in-all it is a drop
In the bucket

[defacto7]

7. Thanks....

I wonder what the politics was there 2 decades ago? Kind of semi maybe sort of liberalish Republican kind of thing? There has been a pull between the liberal and conservative in CA for some time and they made a stab at getting along. But that is probably the problem with desalination vs. rail. Liberal California is hopefully in a stronger seat now than 20 years ago and I hope they keep pushing that direction.

I agree, desal is much more important than the rail... and I think it's much more evident that it's imperative to take care of the water issues. Politics clouds reason all too often, but sometimes there is no room for compromise. This is one of those times.

Although desal is not going to begin to cover the needs of irrigation which is where most water goes. But at least people will survive. There is a long way to go before irrigation systems are made less wasteful and progress in that department would make a big difference all around.

[defacto7]

4. I've watched the destruction of forest

and polluting of the great lakes region since 1960. I've seen what has happened to Michigan, and Ohio in particular. I wouldn't be so hasty to call judgment on California the way you have. California turned a wasteland into the center of food production for the entire US and much of the world. They have an exceptional sensitivity to climate where the Great Lakes region has the resources and has simply polluted it. Most of the water loss for California is from upstream and they have done a pretty good job of balancing the problems over the years. Now the planet is getting dryer, much of your food probably comes from CA and you want to criticize? Better make a statement and stop eating... better yet, clean up the Great Lakes and return the land to its pre-chemical waste condition.

[enough]

8. k&r (nt)