US Battles Epic Drought, Little Relief In Sight

[Purveyor]

Source: AFP

ATLANTA, United States (AFP) - As California battles wind-whipped wildfires, vast areas of the United States are struggling with an epic drought that has millions of people fearing their taps could run dry.

In the southeastern United States, farmers are struggling with failing crops, environmentalists warn of impending disaster and three states are locked in battle over the use of a rapidly dwindling manmade lake.

"Nearly half of the Southeast is in extreme drought and water supplies have reached critical levels in some cities," says Michael Halpert, head of forecast operations at the official Climate Prediction Center.

In California, a week of infernos destroyed hundreds of houses and businesses, forced 300,000 people to flee their homes.

Many parts of the state have experienced record low rainfalls this year as temperatures shot to all-time highs, leaving vast swaths of parched countryside at the mercy of fires propelled by powerful winds.

--
Forecasters say a major storm could still barrel in from the Atlantic and bring badly-needed rains to the southeastern United States, but point out there is only one month left in the six-month hurricane season.

"With the hardest-hit areas needing more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain to pull out of drought, this drought is not going away soon," said government forecaster Randy Schechter.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071027/ts_afp/usdrought_071027181751;_ylt=Av8c4K4cmoJLsrMpz6Ha4TyFOrgF

[panader0]

1. I live in southern Az., and water shortage has been an issue here for the last

30 or 40 years. Someday, mankind will be able to control why some areas get too much rain, and others not enough. Ancient societies had canals. etc., so if we don't self-destruct as a race anytime soon, I think flooding and drought can be solved.

[karlrschneider]

2. Canals won't be much help when it's all desert.

...

[kestrel91316]

3. Can somebody please explain to me WHY we still allow golf courses?

And WHY we allow front lawns ANYWHERE that summer watering is required???

[kentauros]

4. I can't stand golf courses, either...

...mainly for the water usage and for the amount of chemicals they pour onto them for that "perfect" lawn. With the way virtual technology has advanced, why not make all golfing virtual? ;)

As for the supply of fresh water, other than better management of water to begin with, here are a few pages that have a wealth of ideas for gathering existing water (be it from the air or sea) that should be put to use. Granted, some are likely crackpot ideas, but there are some true gems in the pile that would be more than worth implementing. I especially love Henri Coanda's solar silo idea (basically, a solar chimney) for desalinization :D

Air Wells, Fog Fences & Dew Ponds : Methods for Recovery of Atmospheric Humidity

Recovery of Atmospheric Humidity (Air Wells) : US & Foreign Patents
(may be a duplicate of the above as I have not done a detailed comparison the two pages)

Advances In Desalination : The Aul EGD Process

[ozymandius]

6. Golf Courses. Shmolf courses. They're a huge waste of water.

And if you look a little closer to the reason why so many of them are allowed to dump thousands of gallons of water every day for people's amusement, one glaring answer sticks out. They have an agricultural exemption to water conservation laws. I'll bet that rule was written on a golf course.

Isn't it grand what a little money and influence can buy you?

[happyslug]

8. Because the leadership class likes playing golf

That is why Golf Courses get water and will continue to get water. The ruling elites take care of themselves first and everyone else last. It is a sad fact of life but it is why the Automobiles replaced the streetcars (And why streetcars were built in the first place).

[kestrel91316]

15. The golf courses will some day cease to be a place of recreation

for the wealthy. Too easy for mobs with pitchforks and torches to come after them out in the open like that.......

[ohio2007]

5. No hurricanes for two years in a row.....the overlooked benefit is surely missed

by Atlanta's water sources.

.." Forecasters say a major storm could still barrel in from the Atlantic and bring badly-needed rains to the southeastern United States, but point out there is only one month left in the six-month hurricane season.
"..

..the new result of global warming is the drought plague in areas that 'normally'get hurricane fallout

[Massachusetts]

7. Fore!

[lonestarnot]

10. :rofl:

piglicon sport.

[donsu]

11. not intirely - it is great fun and a challenge to play

but you do need extra bucks

[lonestarnot]

13. The extra bucks part to play part, that part, not to mention the water.

[donsu]

9. kick

nt

[donsu]

12. when golf was invented they didn't have water sprinklers or even

motorized grass cutters.

[happyslug]

14. And made illegal for it interfered with Archery.

But as the Upper Middle Class became larger and larger, Archery was seem as something only the working class did, so all support ended for Archery, while the laws against golf, while not repealed, were NOT enforced. I hate sounding like I like class warfare, but when Class Warfare is a factor Class Warfare has to be acknowledged.