Drought and climate change

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ghost-town-emerges-from-lake-mead/vi-BBlAYCd

I visited Vegas in 2010 and could not believe the drop in Lake Mead, but today it is at historic lows and towns which were bought by the government when the dam was built are reappearing........which were submerged 60 feet underwater at normal levels......America better wake up.  We need to start transferring midwest flood waters to western water storage facilities.   This is the most pressing American infrastructure investment.  We could have seven states crash without getting dangerous flood waters transferred to the west in early spring floods.  It has to start now....not next year.

Into this shrinking body of water comes heavy metals from the extractive industries which failed to properly dispose of their wastes after stealing the profits without applying those to properly clean up their mess.....now the taxpayers have shrinking lakes because climate change and poisoned water because of the same, and we think more of the same is good policy for America.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/24/us-usa-drought-nevada-idUSKBN0P42MU20150624

We need to build the midwestern flood water bypass systems which during high water flood conditions on rivers the water is diverted to pipelines which move water to the west and decrease flood high water marks in our Midwestern region.  Instead of the Army Corp building higher berms and billions of dollars of dealing with valuable water resources pouring into the Gulf we need to strategically divert this water, create jobs, and turn arid lands into agricultural zones which can improve our ag exports and improve our balance of payments.

Some money spent by government can have multiplier impact on the American economy.

Or... you could just get used to the fact that drought is both common and natural for the southwest.

Moving the agriculture to the midwest makes more sense.

Salinsky wrote:They're saying one of the strongest El Niños in history is developing, and it could bring the rain for which the region has been so desperate.

Of course, it will also bring massive flooding, mudslides, and other unpredictable outcomes.

Screw the mudslides and floods and other unpredictable outcomes. I'll gladly trade all that for a mild hurricane season in the Atlantic.

Or... you could just get used to the fact that drought is both common and natural for the southwest.

Moving the agriculture to the midwest makes more sense.

The air conditioner has changed American internal population migration.  The southwest has been the fast growing area of America.  The loss of stored water is a design failure if we do not recognize the impact of climate change in America today.   We should be funding water transfer infrastructure now.   If you think the soils, and climate are the same in the midwest as California......well....I will have to politely tell you that an orange or lemon grown in the Midwest does not work......but you knew that.  The challenge is to have the flexibility to EXPAND western irrigation and agriculture production while keeping the water flowing for industry and the workers who are productive members of our economy.   Infrastructure spending needs to be prioritized to put water resources high on our budget priorities.

Yup too many cars on the interstates ....

2seaoat wrote:Or... you could just get used to the fact that drought is both common and natural for the southwest.

Moving the agriculture to the midwest makes more sense.

The air conditioner has changed American internal population migration.  The southwest has been the fast growing area of America.  The loss of stored water is a design failure if we do not recognize the impact of climate change in America today.   We should be funding water transfer infrastructure now.   If you think the soils, and climate are the same in the midwest as California......well....I will have to politely tell you that an orange or lemon grown in the Midwest does not work......but you knew that.  The challenge is to have the flexibility to EXPAND western irrigation and agriculture production while keeping the water flowing for industry and the workers who are productive members of our economy.   Infrastructure spending needs to be prioritized to put water resources high on our budget priorities.

It's been much more than air conditioning... lol. For starters humans began fire control... which drastically changed the natural conditions. Then came water diversion/extraction beyond the natural cycles. All beyond sustainable reality.

PkrBum wrote:

2seaoat wrote:Or... you could just get used to the fact that drought is both common and natural for the southwest.

Moving the agriculture to the midwest makes more sense.

The air conditioner has changed American internal population migration.  The southwest has been the fast growing area of America.  The loss of stored water is a design failure if we do not recognize the impact of climate change in America today.   We should be funding water transfer infrastructure now.   If you think the soils, and climate are the same in the midwest as California......well....I will have to politely tell you that an orange or lemon grown in the Midwest does not work......but you knew that.  The challenge is to have the flexibility to EXPAND western irrigation and agriculture production while keeping the water flowing for industry and the workers who are productive members of our economy.   Infrastructure spending needs to be prioritized to put water resources high on our budget priorities.

It's been much more than air conditioning... lol. For starters humans began fire control... which drastically changed the natural conditions. Then came water diversion/extraction beyond the natural cycles. All beyond sustainable reality.

Oh no Ted Turners right people gotta go. All people over 25 report to a cliff and jump.