Here’s what to know: California gets the most of any state What exactly “more” means - and what that means for California - is still an open question. And without action, we cannot protect the system and the millions of Americans who rely on this critical resource,” Touton said today. “The system is approaching a tipping point. “It is vitally important.”īut climate change, drought and overallocation have been threatening the Colorado River’s supply for decades, even as the amount consumed and lost through reservoir evaporation regularly outpaces its natural flows.Īnd now, with Lake Mead and Lake Powell at historically low levels, more needs to be done, Touton warned. “Our region, our economy, our way of life in Southern California depends on the Colorado River,” said Bill Hasencamp, Colorado River resources manager for the giant Metropolitan Water District, which supplies imported water to 19 million people. Seven Southern California counties rely on the river for water and hydroelectric power, and 600,000 acres of farmland draw on it for irrigation. The verdict is especially high-stakes for Southern California, where the river provides a quarter or a third of the region’s water supply. “To date, the states collectively have not identified and adopted specific actions of sufficient magnitude that would stabilize the system,” Touton said.
0 kommentar(er)
