States and Counties predicted to run out of water due to severe drought

[PokerGuy]

Enjoy climate deniers!

Huh? there are people who deny the existence of a climate? Interesting. Or, are you referring to people who deny that the climate changes (climate change deniers)? Fascinating, I don't know anyone that denies the existence of a climate or that it changes.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Twice a week seems excessive. One deep watering per week should be more than sufficient.



:thumbsup:

Few things irritate me more than seeing a sprinkler system running during/immediately after a rain shower.

I have 4 zones that water for 5 minutes and 2 zones (sides of the house) that water for 3 minutes. I also water at 4:30 so the water doesn't evaporate as quickly.

 

[PokerGuy]

Ultimately, I think fresh water is going to become a bigger and bigger problem, so much so that wars will be fought over it much like wars are fought over oil. The only real way to dramatically increase the supply is to figure out a way to desalinate water at a reasonable rate without destroying the environment in the process.

 

[realibrad]

I hate lawns. The amount of potable water and fuel we use to maintain them is ridiculous. But everywhere you go, there seem to be local laws about how you have to maintain your yard, and you have to get a variance if you just want to let natural plants grow or risk fines.

Having a lawn in FL is a lot more reasonable because of the amount of rain we get. Its also mandated by my HOA. I also must have at least 1 tree, and no less than 6 shrubs in my front yard.

Having lived in the Valley of CA, I can speak a little on that. The valley is a desert for the most part. It was turned into farm land because its flat and easy to farm for the most part. The problem is that you have to pump a ton of water into the crops.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Dallas has several lakes in the vicinity. Not 10,000 of course, but there are some.

Have you been out to Lake Travis lately?
I watched a Vice show from last year and it looked horrible, all these cottages around a little mud puddle

THOMAS: It's just like a little puddle in the middle.
Does this scare you guys? This kind of freaks me out.
Well, I'll be honest with you, most of Austin doesn't even see this effect.
You don't ever really see the full effect of it till, like, you drive down in this valley and you see, oh, no, this is our water supply.
And you know what? It's not stopping.

http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=vice-2013&episode=s02e08

I found these maps and article that helps explain the drought that has been going on for a couple years now

Half the United States is facing drought conditions

The drought is affecting farmers and ranchers across the country. At least 54 percent of the US wheat crop has been hit by drought, 30 percent of the corn crop, and 48 percent of cattle.

That's expected to raise the price of some foods — including things like avocados and lettuce from California, as well as pork and beef.

And, as the map above shows, the US Department of Agriculture has declared a number of areas in the United States "disaster counties" whose farmers and ranchers are eligible for certain emergency loans.

Ultimately, the drought is likely to cost taxpayers — as crop insurance payouts soar and emergency aid programs kick in. Drought in 2011 cost some $11 billion in crop insurance payouts alone, estimates Taxpayers for Common Sense. Drought in 2012 then cost a record $14 billion. This year's drought could well top that still.

That part helps explain why Corn flakes are up and going up

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2384075

Five maps of America's massive drought

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/15/5720870/drought-california-us-maps

 

[MrPickins]

Have you been out to Lake Travis lately?
I watched a Vice show from last year and it looked horrible, all these cottages around a little mud puddle

Yes. It's ridiculously low (~30% capacity).

Imagine boat ramps that end in 40 foot dropoffs...


There is a reason I haven't watered my lawn this year, and am contemplating switching to xeriscaping.

 

[Fern]

Climate change OP? This is about population growth.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-calif-population-20140501-story.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Texas

Fern

 

[OutHouse]

They need to make watering lawns and golf courses illegal, at least during droughts.

i 100% agree.

 

[MongGrel]

I hate maintaining a lawn.

We Xeroscaped the front and the pool takes up most of the back, might do the same there eventually.

Had a large well water sprinkler system for awhile, don't use anymore, that in itself was a PITA to maintain.

 

[OutHouse]

They actually do that in the Denver area, Highlands Ranch specifically.

yup

 

[Londo_Jowo]

There is a reason I haven't watered my lawn this year, and am contemplating switching to xeriscaping.

The HOA where I live dictates what the landscaping must look like here down to minimum amount of trees and the type of grass.

 

[cubby1223]

I think I'm going to continue living next to the great lakes!

 

[MrPickins]

The HOA where I live dictates what the landscaping must look like here down to minimum amount of trees and the type of grass.

Which is a big reason I live where I do. Overbearing HOAs are obnoxious, IMO.

That said, we do have one, but they're not Nazis about things.


(My grass is alive and green, btw. We've gotten just enough evenly spaced rain events to keep it alive.)

 

[Oldgamer]

I hate maintaining a lawn.

We Xeroscaped the front and the pool takes up most of the back, might do the same there eventually.

Had a large well water sprinkler system for awhile, don't use anymore, that in itself was a PITA to maintain.

Our HOA won't allow us to do anything like this. We have to keep a green lawn to certain specifications.

 

[MtnMan]

I water twice a week which is just enough to keep the lawn green and the HOA happy. My sprinkler system has a rain sensor to prevent watering when a sufficient amount of rain has occurred.

'to keep the HOA happy', turn in your damn man card, and fuck HOA's, a bunch of nosy busy body neighbors that love to bully neighbors without danger of getting punched in the nose.

 

[dmcowen674]

Not to mention pumping water all over the place would end up being environmentally devastating to the source areas. Just look at the Colorado River delta.

Like that has ever stopped man from doing something.

 

[GaiaHunter]

Have you been out to Lake Travis lately?
I watched a Vice show from last year and it looked horrible, all these cottages around a little mud puddle



http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=vice-2013&episode=s02e08

I found these maps and article that helps explain the drought that has been going on for a couple years now

Half the United States is facing drought conditions

That part helps explain why Corn flakes are up and going up

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2384075

Five maps of America's massive drought

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/15/5720870/drought-california-us-maps

California 1987-1992 drought report.
http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/docs/2_drought-1987-92.pdf

http://www.nature.com/articles/sdata20141

 

[boomerang]

Early man was nomadic. Moving as the weather changed, as the rivers dried up seasonally, to where the food was. Modern man feels they should be able to live wherever they wish and that they can control the climate and along with it, the rainfall, the flow of the rivers and of course food arrives on trucks.

We only think we've learned a few things.

There have always been droughts, there will always be droughts. The climate is in a state of continual change. If you decide to live in a desert, you should expect to be thirsty from time to time. Your decision does not create an emergency that I have to deal with. It's one of your own doing.

Live in the desert - you're going to have water problems.

Live in New Orleans - you're going to have water problems.

Live in the plains - you're going to experience tornadoes.

Live in the upper Midwest - you're going to experience major snowstorms.

Live on the West coast - you're going to have earthquakes.

Live on the East coast - you're going to have hurricanes.

Live in the Pacific Northwest - you're going to get a lot of rain.

We're all dealing with the consequences of our choices. Water is an essential element for life. Deciding to live where there is little water does not seem like a wise choice to me but I respect your right to make that choice. But take some responsibility for your actions and don't get in a huff when you're thirsty while I've got a tornado bearing down on me. If I decide I'd prefer being thirsty to tornadoes I'll move near you.

In 1988 my area of the state went 91 days without rain in one of the hottest summers we've ever experienced. I remember vividly because I was real busy watering all the new landscaping in the home I'd had built the year before. Shit happens.

 

[Blackjack200]

Wow, that's pretty callous.

 

[realibrad]

Wow, that's pretty callous.

Why?

 

[Genx87]

I hate maintaining a lawn.

We Xeroscaped the front and the pool takes up most of the back, might do the same there eventually.

Had a large well water sprinkler system for awhile, don't use anymore, that in itself was a PITA to maintain.

I'd love to do that here. I hate mowing the yard.

 

[boomerang]

Wow, that's pretty callous.

Feel free to explain what empathy will do to remedy the situation.

I used to work for a guy that I didn't care for much. One day, when I was griping about the political climate at work and how difficult that made it to get things done he said, "When you're driving down the road and you reach a roadblock, you turn around and find another way to get where you need to go." Simple and to the point. I wasn't accomplishing anything by bitching about the situation. The answer was to find another way.

 

[Orignal Earl]

California 1987-1992 drought report.

Yes..there have been droughts before.

 

[Exterous]

I think I'm going to continue living next to the great lakes!

:eyes potential competition for water overload of the midwest:

 

[Londo_Jowo]

'to keep the HOA happy', turn in your damn man card, and fuck HOA's, a bunch of nosy busy body neighbors that love to bully neighbors without danger of getting punched in the nose.

Obviously you don't live in a restricted deed neighborhood, if you don't meet the HOA requirements you will be fined until you correct the issue.