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Lake Mead is shrinking -- and with it Las Vegas' water supply

It would be better if a gay spoke for the gays.

Maybe the DP's official gay spoke hole will come along and answer all of your questions for you.

Given how often you bring gays and gay bath houses up I thought it might have been you
 
If Las Vegas is in a draught, it isn’t because of lack of rain.
Year…………yrs below 2” between 2-4 over 4 inches
1997-2012………..3…………………6…………………….6
1982-1996………..1…………………9…………………….5
1967-1982…………1………………..7…………………….7
1952-1966…………4………………..5…………………….6
1937-1951…………1………………..6…………………….8
Average……………..2.0…………….5.6………………….5.4
Although Las Vegas had 1 more year below 2 inches than the average since 1937 for a 15 year period, Las Vegas was slightly over in rain fall of between 2-4 inches and over 4 inches, 5.6 to 6 years and 5.4 years to 6 years. I would say rain fall on Las Vegas has been pretty close to average for any 15 year cycle or period.

Las Vegas water comes from the Rocky Mountains via the Colorado River.

Las Vegas was founded by the Mormons and they built a fort near where there was a natural desert spring where downtown Vegas is today. Just enough water for filling up a few steam locomotives and supporting a few thousand people. Las Vegas life is dependent on the Colorado River. (Lake Mead is the Colorado River.)

Where as Los Angeles County and surrounding counties have three sources of importing water. The Colorado River in which is dependent to flow on the Rocky Mountains snow pack in the states of Wyoming and Colorado and from Northern California and the Owens Valley on the east side of the Sierras. Both are dependent on the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. The Sierra's snowpack as of last week was 12% of normal.

It doesn't really matter how much rain Las Vegas or Los Angeles receives but how much snow there is in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierras with Los Angeles.
 
Since they no longer teach history in our schools except revisionist history most Americans are unaware that the western half of America is nothing but a desert. Back during the 1800's the great plains east of the Rockies were called the Great American Desert. West of the Rockies it was mostly nothing but a desert.

Los Angeles is nothing but a desert, It has to import most of it's water or it couldn't support more than a few hundred thousand people.

During the 1800's there use to be range wars between the ranchers over water. It's going to get nasty in Northern California.

When there was water in California you had the federal government cutting off the water to the farmers because the eviormentalist said a little fish smaller than a small sardine was more important than people being able to eat veggies or take a shower.

Polgaria, been in contact with your sister in No-Cal recently and her perspective on the drought ? Have they dug a well yet ?

I talked with my sister a few weeks ago, and she is very concerned about the drought. She has a small ranch where she grows nut trees, fruit trees, including citrus; berries; and all kind of vegetables, plus she has dogs and cats, cattle, a few pigs that are slaughtered each year, chickens, and horses who all need drinking water, not to mention the ordinary need for water inside the house for bathing, clothes and dish washing, etc. Not bad for a former teacher, and she loves her life! There was an old, unused well on the property when she bought it, but because city water was available, she never used the well. Now, however, her water bills are so expensive that she pays more for one water bill than I pay in a year! She was going to hire the necessary people to get that well functional again ASAP. I haven't spoken with her since then, but I don't doubt that she has already done so.

She was also bemoaning the fact that with so little snowpack, she hasn't been skiing for two years!
 
Las Vegas water comes from the Rocky Mountains via the Colorado River.

Las Vegas was founded by the Mormons and they built a fort near where there was a natural desert spring where downtown Vegas is today. Just enough water for filling up a few steam locomotives and supporting a few thousand people. Las Vegas life is dependent on the Colorado River. (Lake Mead is the Colorado River.)

Where as Los Angeles County and surrounding counties have three sources of importing water. The Colorado River in which is dependent to flow on the Rocky Mountains snow pack in the states of Wyoming and Colorado and from Northern California and the Owens Valley on the east side of the Sierras. Both are dependent on the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. The Sierra's snowpack as of last week was 12% of normal.

It doesn't really matter how much rain Las Vegas or Los Angeles receives but how much snow there is in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierras with Los Angeles.

Ah, okay. So we are talking about a quite large area. I got you.
 
and right now there is very little snow in the sierra mountains. that is a problem

The way the video talked, that gal blamed everything on the drought. So naturally being from Georgia, my first response was to look at the rain fall. A few years back we had a nasty drought here. A couple of Hurricanes in the gulf and the water they dropped on Georgia cured most of that. Relying on snow pack for water all year around, I would have never thought of that. It is the shame that gal in the video did explain it a bit better.
 
I talked with my sister a few weeks ago, and she is very concerned about the drought. She has a small ranch where she grows nut trees, fruit trees, including citrus; berries; and all kind of vegetables, plus she has dogs and cats, cattle, a few pigs that are slaughtered each year, chickens, and horses who all need drinking water, not to mention the ordinary need for water inside the house for bathing, clothes and dish washing, etc. Not bad for a former teacher, and she loves her life! There was an old, unused well on the property when she bought it, but because city water was available, she never used the well. Now, however, her water bills are so expensive that she pays more for one water bill than I pay in a year! She was going to hire the necessary people to get that well functional again ASAP. I haven't spoken with her since then, but I don't doubt that she has already done so.

She was also bemoaning the fact that with so little snowpack, she hasn't been skiing for two years!

I have a pretty good idea on what part of northern California your sister is living.

They grow some pretty good tasting veggies in northern California. The good stuff never makes it to L.A.
 
The way the video talked, that gal blamed everything on the drought. So naturally being from Georgia, my first response was to look at the rain fall. A few years back we had a nasty drought here. A couple of Hurricanes in the gulf and the water they dropped on Georgia cured most of that. Relying on snow pack for water all year around, I would have never thought of that. It is the shame that gal in the video did explain it a bit better.

The Sierra Nevada is one of the snowiest places in the lower 48, with snow packs of 20 feet and more not uncommon. Next to it is the Central Valley, where the climate for agriculture is very favorable, but there is little water. California depends on water from the snow melt to fill reservoirs and canals, providing water to that desert. Rainfall is of secondary importance.

Moreover, most of the rain falls in winter, not when most of the crops are growing.

Before the storm that just hit the past couple of days, there was basically no snow pack at all. Now, there is some, but not nearly enough.
 
and right now there is very little snow in the sierra mountains. that is a problem

Or maybe the problem is the Southwest/California has out grown it's natural ability to be self-sustaining during a peak wet period for the area. Before 19th century the area was 15% dryer then what it is during the "drought period" of the last 14 years. The CO river when drafted in the 1920s was again measured in a period in which it was "above normal" rainfall . When historically 13.5 million acre feet flow is the normal, estimates were based on 17.5 million acre feet (1920s measurements).

You should read "Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water" by Marc Reisner.
 
The Sierra Nevada is one of the snowiest places in the lower 48, with snow packs of 20 feet and more not uncommon. Next to it is the Central Valley, where the climate for agriculture is very favorable, but there is little water. California depends on water from the snow melt to fill reservoirs and canals, providing water to that desert. Rainfall is of secondary importance.

Moreover, most of the rain falls in winter, not when most of the crops are growing.

Before the storm that just hit the past couple of days, there was basically no snow pack at all. Now, there is some, but not nearly enough.

Two things.

1) Colorado River is the largest supplier of water to California. That means snow pack from Co, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Nevada. 90% of that area is above 90% snow pack.

2) And that's the problem. California uses the majority of it's water for agriculture. California population is also larger then what is historically supportable. Blame Army Corp of Engineers and USGS who assumed peak wet conditions during that period was the norm.
 
The way the video talked, that gal blamed everything on the drought. So naturally being from Georgia, my first response was to look at the rain fall. A few years back we had a nasty drought here. A couple of Hurricanes in the gulf and the water they dropped on Georgia cured most of that. Relying on snow pack for water all year around, I would have never thought of that. It is the shame that gal in the video did explain it a bit better.

I've probably been to the Atlanta Georgia area over thirty times in the past thirty or so years and don't ever remember when it didn't rain.

But I've been to Seattle, Wa. a dozen times and don't ever remember seeing the sun much. Always a drizzle.

Living in the West on the Left Coast I discovered what the real color of green was once you get east of the Mississippi River. We don't have the color green like they do east of the Mississippi.
 
Two things.

1) Colorado River is the largest supplier of water to California. That means snow pack from Co, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Nevada. 90% of that area is above 90% snow pack.

2) And that's the problem. California uses the majority of it's water for agriculture. California population is also larger then what is historically supportable. Blame Army Corp of Engineers and USGS who assumed peak wet conditions during that period was the norm.

Colorado river provides water to Southern California, but not much north of the Tehachapis. I thought the premise of this thread was that Lake Mead was going dry? If there is a 90% snowpack in that watershed, then you'd think they'd be in pretty good shape in the south. Here, the real snowpack is more like 9%, or less. That is a big problem for agriculture.

There is some evidence that the past 150 years or so have been wetter than normal. What we're percieving as a drought might be a return to normal. It that's so, then this state is in real trouble.
 
I've probably been to the Atlanta Georgia area over thirty times in the past thirty or so years and don't ever remember when it didn't rain.

But I've been to Seattle, Wa. a dozen times and don't ever remember seeing the sun much. Always a drizzle.

Living in the West on the Left Coast I discovered what the real color of green was once you get east of the Mississippi River. We don't have the color green like they do east of the Mississippi.

I made out to Ft. Lewis a couple of times. One day it snowed, rained and the temp climb to around 70 I believe. You could have all 4 seasons in one day. It was sure expensive out there. I left Ft. Bragg a couple of years ago where gas was 3.40 a gallon and when I filled up my rental in Seattle before leaving it was 4.05 a gallon. Food and hotels were a lot more too. I was happy to get back to FORSCOM at Bragg.
 
Colorado river provides water to Southern California, but not much north of the Tehachapis. I thought the premise of this thread was that Lake Mead was going dry? If there is a 90% snowpack in that watershed, then you'd think they'd be in pretty good shape in the south. Here, the real snowpack is more like 9%, or less. That is a big problem for agriculture.

There is some evidence that the past 150 years or so have been wetter than normal. What we're percieving as a drought might be a return to normal. It that's so, then this state is in real trouble.

Tehachapis Mountains are north of LA basin. Lake Mead gets it water from the CO river (Hoover Dam). So is Lake Powell, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu. The snow pack can be at 200% and it won't fix the problem. Imperial Valley area is an agriculture hub because of the All-American Canal. Mexico for years hasn't seen excess water from the CO River. Arizona and those upstream will lose water rights before California does per law.

LA (LA Aqueduct) also takes water from the North, Mono Lake down south to Owens Lake through the Mojave. California Aqueduct also takes water from the North to LA.

Reality is California is over populated and has too much Agriculture for what is historically normal.
 
Tehachapis Mountains are north of LA basin. Lake Mead gets it water from the CO river (Hoover Dam). So is Lake Powell, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu. The snow pack can be at 200% and it won't fix the problem. Imperial Valley area is an agriculture hub because of the All-American Canal. Mexico for years hasn't seen excess water from the CO River. Arizona and those upstream will lose water rights before California does per law.

LA (LA Aqueduct) also takes water from the North, Mono Lake down south to Owens Lake through the Mojave. California Aqueduct also takes water from the North to LA.

Reality is California is over populated and has too much Agriculture for what is historically normal.

I'd think that a few years of 200% snowpack would go a long way towards filling up Lake Mead.

but, you may be right. California has overextended itself for the water supply available.

I've been watching vines being planted in the foothills of the Coast range, and wondering where the water was coming from to keep them growing. Maybe now, we'll find that there really isn't enough for all of the permanent crops that have been planted.
 
I'd think that a few years of 200% snowpack would go a long way towards filling up Lake Mead.

But it would have to be that rate from this point on.

but, you may be right. California has overextended itself for the water supply available.

I think I am.. One of the few things I'd is support Government loans for would be Desalination plants being built like they do in the Middle East. Not grants but favorable loans with low interest rates.


I've been watching vines being planted in the foothills of the Coast range, and wondering where the water was coming from to keep them growing. Maybe now, we'll find that there really isn't enough for all of the permanent crops that have been planted.

I think that will be the case. Some of my wife's family lives in San Mateo and they have a summer/winter place up in Truckee area and I always ask them how the hell can you live in California. Granted it's where they grew up, but as a East Coaster I just don't get how living and dying by the sword is acceptable.
 
FYI: water is measured in "acre feet" (AF). One AF=326,000 gallons. Annual amounts are measured in "acre feet per year" (AFY).
 
Oprah and Ellen are scared. :scared:

Scuttlebutt is, Santa Barbara who had it's #### together back in the 80's/90's built a water desalination facility and then put it in mothballs for an emergency might reactive the desalination plant. Of course the water is only for the elite who live in Santa Barbara.





Description
The Charles Meyer Desalination Plant is in long-term storage mode and is not currently producing drinking water for the City. The City constructed the reverse osmosis seawater desalination facility as an emergency water supply in response to the severe drought from 1986 to 1991. Two neighboring water purveyors, Goleta and Montecito water districts, participated in the project but have since opted out of the permanent facility. Due to sufficient freshwater supplies since 1991, the facility remains in long-term storage mode for reactivation within two years in the case of prolonged and severe drought.

Annual Capacity
With the departure of the co-participants and sale of a portion of the capacity, the desalination facility now has a production capacity of 3,125 acre feet per year.

Operating Criteria
Relatively high variable costs for desalination make this supply the last to be utilized during periods of shortage. The facility is normally in long-term storage mode and is expected to be recommissioned only when the demand cannot be met using all other available supplies.

Cost Information
The original capital cost for construction in 1991 was $34 million. The capital cost to reactivate the plant at a capacity of 3,125 AF per year was estimated at $17.7 million, not including about $2.5 million dollars in distribution system improvements that would be required, if not already completed by the time of reactivation. Operating costs were estimated at approximately $1,500/AF.

Last Updated: Jul 26, 2013

Santa Barbara - Desalination
 
You lose with your liberal revisionism. No such word "Bush phone" appeared on any website or newspaper before 2009.

Obama is going to need some kind of legacy, why not Obama-phones ?
Because it is a childish lie ... Bush signed the law handing out free cell phones to S.S. and welfare recipients early in 2008.
It is at least as stupid as it would be to call Obamacare, Bushcare.
Hey, come to think of it, since Bush senior and Bob Dole came up with the idea of the individual mandate maybe I'll start calling the ACA Bushcare. Bush senior needs some kind of a legacy other than "Read my lips, no new taxes". Why not give him the credit for his idea?
I tell you what ...I'll start calling them "Obama phones" if you start calling the ACA "Bush care" ... Hows that? Individual Mandate, Now Vilified By GOP, Was Supported By George H.W. Bush
bush mobile phone,*Shop411.com
 
Snowpack here in the Colorado mountains is above average for this time of the year. I hope this will help the situation.
NRCS/WRDS Snowpack Data
We just got about 20 inches at my house with more forecast for the week to come.
 
if you start calling the ACA "Bush care" ... Hows that?

That could be a compliment in 20 years.
I'm working on a way to bring water to you guys out west from the Mideast/East/Southeast.
To make a short story, I've got water pipelines and Erie-style Canals all over the damn place.

I've got a thread with Your Top Ten Issues and Leans.
So far, infrastructure is becoming my latest passion, especially due to the 40-year drought.

As we were sooooo bored during the game, we even discussed sealed truck-trailers on freight trains.
we've got plenty of snow and looming spring floods .
 
Snowpack here in the Colorado mountains is above average for this time of the year. I hope this will help the situation.
NRCS/WRDS Snowpack Data
We just got about 20 inches at my house with more forecast for the week to come.
Ban housing developments in what used to be deserts from "watering" lawns and changing the ecosystem.
Teach them to build a lawn that "absorbs" water from the air, saving ground-water .
 
Ban housing developments in what used to be deserts from "watering" lawns and changing the ecosystem.
Teach them to build a lawn that "absorbs" water from the air, saving ground-water .
In my honest opinion the desert golf courses need to go first. No one should be asked to conserve water in their home just so some rich asshole in funny pants can play a Scottish pasture game in the middle of the American desert.
 
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