Texas Water Board - Worldwide Warming Trends "Do Not Necessarily Hold True For Texas" - Chronicle

[hatrack]

Whatever.

The board tasked with meeting the state's water needs through 2060 says climate change is uncertain enough that it's not worth accounting for in its long-range plans.

The statements on global warming, written into the 2007 State Water Plan, have puzzled some of the top climate scientists in Texas who expect increasing evaporation but not additional rainfall as temperatures warm. "It is very hard to distinguish between ignorance and political motivation, but both hypotheses fit the data," said Gerald North, distinguished professor of geosciences at Texas A&M University. North noted the state's average temperature has increased by 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the last three decades as the world also has warmed.

Approved by Texas Water Development Board members late last year, the Water for Texas 2007 plan concludes a short section on global warming by stating: "When considering the uncertainties of population and water demand projections, the effect of climate change on the state's water resources over the next 50 years is probably small enough that it is unnecessary to plan for it specifically."

The report also states that warming trends around the world "do not necessarily hold true for Texas," saying the temperature has not warmed significantly in Texas.

EDIT

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4544962.html

[villager]

1. They really do think they're the "Lone Star" republic, don't they?

n/t

[redqueen]

2. Un-frickin-believable!

These people haven't been paying attention to the water situation in Texas, apparently.

Add to the recent history that people are moving here in huge numbers... and you've got a recipe for disaster.

*sigh*

This state! :grr:

[sharp_stick]

3. A prediction

In 20 to 30 years Texas and the rest of the Southwest will be begging Canada to open the taps for fresh water. I don't see how the desert States can continue to support the population growth they've been seeing. This will IMO get even worse as global climate change puts the bite on them.

Of course by then the people now claiming global climate change is a bunch of shit will be denying they ever said anything so stupid, whether or not it's in the record.

[Benhurst]

4. At which time I hope Canada will sell it to them,

one fancy bottle at a time.

[NickB79]

9. All of Canada's water will be going to Alberta

Either to southern Alberta to irrigate their crops or to northern Alberta to extract oil from tar sands. Canada's plains region is going to experience just as much drought as ours, unfortunately, and the declining production of oil from conventional sources will force increased tar sands production.

[krispos42]

5. Well, they're half-right

Considering that any population influx (or, perhaps, outflux) into Texas is hugely variable when you consider both business-related moving (like corporations moving into or out of the state) and the uncertanties of the illegal immigration problem.

If Congress decides to start smacking around the white-collar types for hiring illegals, like Thom Hartmann wants, then the flood of Mexicans coming to Texas may drop, marking a huge change in population-growth estimates.

Thirty or fifty years is a hell of a long time in politics. That's at 4 to six presidents, at a minimum, and 15 to 25 different Congresses. In most states, who is in power does not affect population growth, but considering the amount of illegals in Texas, federal border policy and trade policies will have a huge influence on Texas' population growth, IMHO.

The part about how Texas is immune from global warming, however, is just

[jpak]

6. Global Warmin' don't go 'round here...

<opens a Pearl>

Hey...let's go bite some Yankees...

:evilgrin:

[Double T]

7. Talking about A-holes living in a bubble............

dowsing rods for ALL the idiots.

[amitten]

8. Stupid. BUT...somewhat in their defense (not really, though)...

I used to live in Kansas and I always read the Kansas City Star. I'll never forget the article (this was about 15 years ago) that discussed the global warming impact on the native prairie lands.

In the article, scientists predicted that due to warming/lack of rain, most of the prairie of western and central Kansas would certainly be desert within 10 years or so. Fifteen years later, we can all see that that didn't happen (not even close).

So, while I consider myself a climate change activist and want everyone to try to help stop it, I do recognize that predicting specific LOCAL changes is something of an inexact science.

That said, all states should be factoring climate change into their policies regarding resources.

[Dover]

10. Which is why all the wealthiest Texans are scrambling to own water rights!

They are also buying up water properties like there's no tomorrow...so apparently they do anticipate a little...er....problem with supply.
They aren't ignorant OR political. They are simply greedy! Water is the oil man's salvation...the next big bonanza.

Of course, if you admit to global warming issues, it's kinda hard to justify all those coal plants they want to install.

Here's the water board's newsletter:

http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/newsletters/WaterforTexas/WFTwinter07.pdf

[phantom power]

11. Life is hard. It's harder if you are stupid.

[kitkatrose]

13. Life can be (will be) fatal if you're stupid. n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

12. It's now OFFICIAL POLICY -- Texas is not part of the Real World.

From your former neighbors in the big RW, adios! Don't forget to write. Or do.

[Nihil]

14. Lovely quote:

> "It is very hard to distinguish between ignorance and political
> motivation, but both hypotheses fit the data"

Sums it up really.