Troubled Waters
How Low Will the Colorado River Go?
What’s going on: The Colorado River water crisis has reached a new level... and it's not good. On Saturday, Lake Powell — the nation’s second-largest water reservoir — saw its elevation drop to 3,519.91 feet, its lowest point on record. The news comes less than two weeks after Lake Mead, the nation’s biggest reservoir, hit its own dangerously low level. The last time experts estimate water levels were this depleted was in 1957, before Lake Powell even existed. Together, the reservoirs sustain the Colorado River (called the “lifeblood of the Southwest”). The system provides water and electricity to 40 million Americans across seven US states — including Native American tribes — and two northern states in Mexico. While both bodies have steadily declined for the past two decades, the latest water line at Lake Powell is less than 30 feet from the minimum required to keep its largest dam generating hydropower. If that happens, nearly 500,000 households could risk losing power.
Are we at rock bottom?: Not yet... but the blueprints didn't factor in climate change. And now, the West is warming faster than the rest of the US, while the region's been locked in a "megadrought" for years. Last winter was one of the warmest and driest on record. It’s caused the Southwest’s water bank account to shrink by roughly 20% since 2000. Scientists agree that today's levels are "unprecedented," and federal officials have made strides toward a short-term solution to get through until next year. That doesn't mean the glass is half full. While most households in the Southwest won't lose water completely, others could be on borrowed time. In Northern Arizona’s Native American communities, one-third of households lack running water because neighboring states have blocked their access. A longer-term plan to limit water usage is at a standstill because the seven states that depend on the river don't agree on how much to scale back. Until they do, one scholar warns, “the ship continues to sink."
Related: Puerto Rico Could Have Avoided Its Water Crisis by Harvesting Rainwater (Wired)
Well Played
In this week’s episode of Well Played, Blake and Caroline discuss Hilary Duff making the rounds like LeBron James, bouncing from Florida to Los Angeles to Philly on her latest tour. So… who’s gonna tell Hilary that she needs to make a pilgrimage to Cleveland? Meanwhile, Caroline recaps the snooze fest that was the Hall of Fame game, an unhinged speech by one of its inductees, and why the Hall of Fame voting committee should consider Tom Brady’s nose-pinching-when-swimming for his future candidacy.
Well Played
In this week’s episode of Well Played, Blake and Caroline dive into:
Hilary Duff making the rounds like LeBron James on her latest tour.
The snooze fest that was the Hall of Fame game (and an unhinged speech from an inductee).
Why the Hall of Fame voting committee should consider Tom Brady’s nose-pinching-when-swimming for his future candidacy.
KNOW IT ALL
Italian police recovered three stolen masterpieces worth roughly $10 million on Friday. The very next day…
Still catching up from the weekend? Jumpstart your brain with Flipart. Feel the rush.
Troubled Waters
How Low Will the Colorado River Go?
What’s going on: The Colorado River water crisis has reached a new level... and it's not good. On Saturday, Lake Powell — the nation’s second-largest water reservoir — saw its elevation drop to 3,519.91 feet, its lowest point on record. The news comes less than two weeks after Lake Mead, the nation’s biggest reservoir, hit its own dangerously low level. The last time experts estimate water levels were this depleted was in 1957, before Lake Powell even existed. Together, the reservoirs sustain the Colorado River (called the “lifeblood of the Southwest”). The system provides water and electricity to 40 million Americans across seven US states — including Native American tribes — and two northern states in Mexico. While both bodies have steadily declined for the past two decades, the latest water line at Lake Powell is less than 30 feet from the minimum required to keep its largest dam generating hydropower. If that happens, nearly 500,000 households could risk losing power.
Are we at rock bottom?: Not yet... but the blueprints didn't factor in climate change. And now, the West is warming faster than the rest of the US, while the region's been locked in a "megadrought" for years. Last winter was one of the warmest and driest on record. It’s caused the Southwest’s water bank account to shrink by roughly 20% since 2000. Scientists agree that today's levels are "unprecedented," and federal officials have made strides toward a short-term solution to get through until next year. That doesn't mean the glass is half full. While most households in the Southwest won't lose water completely, others could be on borrowed time. In Northern Arizona’s Native American communities, one-third of households lack running water because neighboring states have blocked their access. A longer-term plan to limit water usage is at a standstill because the seven states that depend on the river don't agree on how much to scale back. Until they do, one scholar warns, “the ship continues to sink."
Related: Puerto Rico Could Have Avoided Its Water Crisis by Harvesting Rainwater (Wired)
KNOW IT ALL
Italian police recovered three stolen masterpieces worth roughly $10 million on Friday. The very next day…
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