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While about 50% of the country is experiencing some level of drought, this is nothing new to Western states which are in the midst of a 22-year megadrought. Decreasing water supply—in addition to extreme heat and wildfire—is one of the most alarming results of the historic drought. Precipitation of all kinds has decreased, but Bloomberg News reports that the massive drop in snowmelt is particularly threatening to the water supply. The West’s mountain snowpacks have shrunk an average of 23% between 1955 and 2022.
“Much of our water system has been built assuming we’re going to have that snowpack available in a consistent way. Now, that’s shifting,” said Andrew Schwartz, manager of the Central Sierra Snow Lab.
Water levels are currently low enough that reservoirs along the Colorado River are in danger of no longer being able to produce hydropower or supply water to the seven states that rely on them. Lake Powell, for instance, is currently at 27% capacity and will likely drop below the minimum elevation needed to produce hydropower within the next year.
There is no one solution to this issue, and it will require both policymakers and individual residents to recognize that the water system in the West is no longer working.
Nevada landowners plan to demolish dam at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Private landowners ignored warnings from the Fish and Wildlife Service and began to destroy an earthen dam in a Nevada wildlife refuge in order to restore a stream on their property. The landowners, who claim they have a right to the water, have a history of disputes with the federal government. Despite issuing warnings, FWS has yet to intervene, and the landowners say they plan to continue with the demolition. Anti-government activist Pete Santilli, who participated in the Bundy standoff, interviewed one of the landowners and threatened FWS officials, “Don’t make me come back out there. Because I’ll come with Jesus next time.”
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Our national parks are being adversely affected by ongoing oil and gas leasing and drilling on adjacent lands. The Bureau of Land Management has allowed the industry to lease land right up to the doorstep of many park boundaries, threatening priceless heritage, wildlife, and our public lands.”
