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Many U.S. West Farmers Ready To Sell Groundwater Rights As Aquifers Shrink
September 5th, 2024
Via KUNR, a report that many U.S. Mountain West farmers are ready to sell groundwater rights as aquifers shrink: Decades of drought and overpumping are draining groundwater tables across the West. Now, some states are buying farmers’ water rights to free up supplies – and plenty of farmers are ready to sell. In Nevada’s Walker […]
Read more »We Bought Time To Fix The Colorado River. What Happens When The Money Runs Out?
August 29th, 2024
Via AZ Central, commentary on the Colorado River – which is in better shape now than it has been in years, thanks to extra water in Lake Mead and federal government funding – but the question is how to keep it there after 2026? We have a good story to tell about the Colorado River […]
Read more »With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River
August 27th, 2024
Courtesy of the New York Times, a report on the U.S.’s largest dam removal project which is nearly complete after a lengthy campaign by Native tribes to restore the river at the California-Oregon border: The Klamath River was once so flush with fish that local tribes ate salmon at every meal: flame-roasted filets on redwood […]
Read more »AI Demands Water and Energy From An Already Thirsty California
August 27th, 2024
Artificial intelligence technology is guzzling water and energy in California and around the globe – by some estimates, ChatGPT uses about 16 ounces of water for as little as 10 queries, while AI-generated answers from Google use up to 8.9 watt-hours of electricity per request – yet most tech companies have not been forthcoming about […]
Read more »When the Heat Is On, Water Can Still Be Off in Great Lakes Cities
August 26th, 2024
Via Circle of Blue, a report on formal water shutoff policies in some U.S. cities which are ill-defined for extreme heat: When an early summer heat wave enveloped the Great Lakes region last month, Cleveland officials stepped in to offer relief. They reminded residents of the availability of splash pads for outdoor water recreation. And […]
Read more »It’s 2024: Is Drought Optional?
August 26th, 2024
Via Asterik Magazine, commentary on the potential for desalination to support the Colorado River and other critical U.S. water needs: In the early 20th century, the United States diverted and dammed nearly every major river that runs through the West, ushering in an era of unparalleled dominion over water. Today, California once again struggles with […]
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