Drought
New Documentary Released--The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?
A new documentary, The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?, has just been released. It will soon air on PBS stations across the county. For more information and/or to obtain a copy, visit the Running Dry website.
February 4, 2010--Spring runoff expected to be below average (Aspen Daily News)
This winter’s below average snowfall, as one might expect, indicates there could be a low runoff this spring. “The outlook for runoff in the Upper Colorado, North Platte, Yampa, White and South Platte rivers continues to call for well below average flows,” said Allen Green, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a department of the U.S.
January 27, 2010--U.S. speeds up water deliveries to San Joaquin Valley farmers (Los Angeles Times)
Federal managers said Tuesday they are speeding up delivery of irrigation water to farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley because recent storms have boosted the state's water supply. "Essentially we're saying we're confident enough right now that we can provide this as an assured water supply . . .
January 25, 2010--National science panel convenes on Calif. delta (Denver Post)
An expert in California's delta told a panel of the National Academies of Sciences on Sunday that their decisions about the largest estuary on the West Coast could alter how Californians use water.
January 21, 2010--2000s warmest decade on record (Durango Herald)
The 2000-09 decade was the warmest on record, easily surpassing the previous hottest decade - the 1990s - researchers said Tuesday in a report providing fresh evidence the planet may be warming at a potentially disastrous rate.
January 19, 2010--Colorado optimistic California ruling won't hurt water deal (Boulder Daily Camera)
Colorado water officials are optimistic that a California court ruling invalidating a conservation plan won't derail agreements affecting seven Western states. Dick Wolfe, director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, said Tuesday that water officials have shown a "collective will" to overcome obstacles.
January 19, 2010--New Calif. water policy aims to save state's key estuary, but critics say it falls short (Los Angeles Times)
The perilously low populations of salmon and native fish are symptoms, according to numerous scientists, of a crashing ecosystem in the West Coast's largest estuary. Numerous theories abound for the decline, from too much water being pumped from the delta for drinking and irrigation to the use of agricultural chemicals. Whatever the cause, Gov.
January 19, 2010-- Snowpack dangerously close to drought levels (Colorado Independent)
Badly needed snowfall is expected in Colorado’s high country this week, but one expert says the state will need much more than the amount in the forecast to stave off drought on par with the one that marked the parched year of 2002, which saw reservoirs depleted to record-low levels and raging wildfires.
January 13, 2010--January snowpack lowest since 2002 (Sky-Hi Daily News)
On Nov. 1, SNOTEL data indicated basin snowpacks were over 130 percent of average. Unfortunately, a poor showing during November resulted in a drop in snowpack percentages by Dec. 1 to a mere 65 percent of average.
January 9, 2010--Heavy rains end drought for Texas (New York Times)
The worst drought to strike Texas in the last 50 years has broken, ending a year-and-a-half dry spell in which farmers and ranchers suffered devastating losses, climatologists and agronomists said this week.
