Dry conditions have terrorized the Los Angeles area, scorching nearly 50,000 acres, damaging nearly 15,000 structures, and resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people, according to this update from NBC News.
Is extreme weather solely to blame? Did local jurisdictions have proper access to water to fight the fires? Did local or state leaders do enough preventative measures before this disaster struck?
There will be much discussion ahead in the aftermath. The most pressing need will be the focus on the families whose homes were destroyed and lives upended as well as the damage to businesses.
Hotter, drier weather has put prolonged strain on the Colorado River. That has reduced central Arizona’s share of the river water that had been vital for farmers in the central region of the state.
12 News in Phoenix, Arizona, talked with Mark Schnepp, owner of Schnepp Farms, on how he has adjusted to make sure that his operations can continue.
The Colorado River’s falling levels could threaten much of the country since it provides about 15% of the water for the nation’s agricultural operations. The Imperial Valley in southern California gets nearly 100% of its water supply from the Colorado River, since the area only receives about three inches of rainfall annually.
Could residential customers find ways to lessen their own use of water to relieve some of the strain on agricultural producers? In northern Colorado, there is a push to replace traditional lawns with alternative turf, native plants, and different uses for the space where grass now grows.
The University of Northern Colorado is working on a limited project with some of those changes that developers believe will reduce annual water use by two-thirds.
KUNC Public Radio in Greeley, Colorado, has this story about the project and what it could accomplish.
Farmers in southwest Georgia are making plans to drill new wells beginning in April, something that they have not been legally allowed to do for more than a decade. Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division will start taking applications for new wells for agriculture along the lower Flint River.
Florida sued in 2013 and contended that Georgia was using too much water from the Flint River and that caused issues downstream. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Georgia.
The Associated Press has background on the legal fight and what is ahead for Georgia farmers with their newfound ability to drill new wells. Read that here.
