Water in the Southwest and Carpooling

Issue:
This week’s environmental section of the NYT has begun with the topic of available freshwater in the West and Southwestern parts of the U.S. A potential problem that scientists have been discussing for years but jus recently presented to the public. The article states the alarming truth that the Colorado River’s water, is depended on by 30 million people, from seven different states: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

“An almost unfathomable legal morass might well result, with farmers suing the federal government; cities suing cities; states suing states; Indian nations suing state officials; and foreign nations (by treaty, Mexico has a small claim on the river) bringing international law to bear on the United States government.”

With 30 million people dependent on life all from the same diminishing source…we should have some serious water conservation movements in all the seven states! Instead…

“Over the past few decades, the driest states in the United States have become some of our fastest-growing; meanwhile, an ongoing drought has brought the flow of the Colorado to its lowest levels since measurements at Lee’s Ferry began 85 years ago.”

Why is Las Vegas the fastest growing city in the U.S? It doesn’t make any sense to me why you would want to move somewhere that has no water resources and is the last on the ‘list’ for water rights. If the water management protocol is first come first serve as Dr. Ostergren stated in an ENV 101 class, than it doesn’t sound very smart. The Strip is the most absurd destination in the desert. It is a slap in the face to the desert southwest! With all of the casinos, water fountains, millions of flushing toilets, and buffets, using such a large amount of water, there should be conservation techniques employed there. As a minimum, all of the toilets and showerheads should be low flow, water consumption. It is unfortunate that the city planner’s didn’t implement this in the first place but there’s still time to change.

Furthermore it is irresponsible by our AZ politician’s that we don’t have large-scale conservation movements just because there is enough estimated water for about 100 years. According to Dr. O, politicians don’t see the value in alarming the public of a water shortage if there is enough for 100 years. So, instead lets have a pool in every backyard, grass in there front yards, city fountains, and golf courses! Anywhere we can use water lets do it! (Although, most neighborhoods now have watering rotating schedules it is still silly to keep planting grass for the new housing communities when “desert landscaping” should be though of as “natural landscaping.”) I say even though we won’t personally be here in a 100 years, it is a lot closer than it seems and we should conserve now so there is a potential for that water to last longer!

Source: J. Gertner, “The Future is Drying Up” 10.21.2007 <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?ref=environment>

Deed:
I have been carpooling to school two days a week. I also carpooled to a wedding this weekend!