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America’s most endangered river, California, Climate Change, Colorado River, Drought in the USA, Lake Mead, Los Angeles, Planet Earth
The Colorado River from space on March 12, 2013 – NASA Earth Observatory
Source: http://www.livescience.com
On Monday, 22 April 2013, over one billion people worldwide will take part in the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day. The theme this year is The Face of Climate Change. We are invited to take a photo and tell our story of the way in which climate change affects us and what we are doing to be part of the solution.
In my corner of Planet Earth, the Colorado River is the face of climate change. On 16 April 2013, the annual release of America’s Most Endangered Rivers ranked the Colorado River as our nation’s number one endangered river. This lifeline through the desert sustains over 40 million people in seven Western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Our water demands are so great that this mighty river dribbles and dries up for some fifty miles before it reaches the Gulf of California.
Colorado River Delta – America’s Most Endangered River 2013
Source: press.nationalgeographic.com
Lake Mead reservoir behind Hoover Dam shows signs of the worst ten-year drought in recorded history along the Colorado River. A white mineral “bathtub ring” along its rocky banks lies 100 feet up from the current water line to the 1983 high-water mark.
Lake Mead Reservoir behind Hoover Dam 2009 – Colorado River – USA
Source: http://www.millennium-ark.net
American Rivers, the leading organization working to protect and restore our rivers and streams since 1973, warns that warmer weather and below average snowpack in the Rocky Mountains are expected to reduce Colorado River’s flow by 10 to 30 percent by 2050. Assuming a life expectancy of 80 years, my sons and all inhabitants of this region between 0 to 43 years old will face dwindling water supplies and subsequent effects on food production and industries.
During the first three months of this year, California experienced its driest first-quarter on record since 1895. And we are not alone. Sixty-seven percent of contiguous states are drier than normal and the population in some places still struggle with exceptional drought. The weekly updated U.S. Drought Monitor Map shows the extent of drought across the United States.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported in February 2013 that the 2012/2013 drought affected our nation’s agricultural production, river transport system, recreational enterprises, and municipal water supplies. America’s economic loss to drought is estimated at US$35 billion.
With its dependence upon the waters of the endangered Colorado River, will Los Angeles still maintain its glory as the nation’s entertainment capital a hundred years from now?
As an Angeleno, I am the face of climate change. I cannot claim innocence. I have to let go of my complacency. I have to change my ways and my habits. I have to conserve energy, gas, and water. I have to buy more locally grown food. I have to reduce my waste. I have to stop craving useless stuff that depletes Earth’s natural resources and heats up our atmosphere for its production. I have to walk and use public transport as often as possible to reduce my carbon footprint.
I am the face of climate change. I cannot claim innocence. I am the cause and the solution.
Three Worlds One Vision 
Reblogged this on Guyanese Online.
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Cyril, thanks for sharing my blog post with your readers.
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Wow wow!
Reality hits home….
AMERICA the land of plenty may become the “empty” land.
The pictures says it all…how wasteful mankind are.
Change we must or we die….in our ignorance.
The food basket of the planet may become the “desert” of the planet.
Having said all that as am forever the optimist and not wishing to
preach the gospel of “doomers and gloomers” I feel it is never too
late to change….change we must as die we must…but “when”….?
I spend a lot of my retirement time on my farm in south spain
where the mediterrean sea is one of the most polluted on the
planet…most of the sewers of the area are flushed into this
sea which was once a desert….my farm now has a flush toilet
that is a “soak away” surrounded by almond trees which roots
go very deep.Some of my best almond trees grow here.
In golden grove ECD where I grew up when our ses-pit
was re-sited my mother would plant a fruit trees nearby
with fantastic results….the “circle” of nature completed.
When it rains heavily in the city of London its Roman Sewers overflow
and empties into the River Thames..the lifeline of many big cities.
We can but learn from the mistakes of the giants of our planet
in building our new cities…Georgetown comes to mind if/when
it is re-sited.
Hindsight teaches fools
I did enjoy the final statement above which prompted my response..
“I am the face of climate change….I am cause and solution.”
Mea culpa
Kamptan
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As consumers of a wide range of products and services, we all contribute, in varying degrees, to the warming of our planet.
I share your optimism that it’s never too late to change. But our challenge is great. We have to spread awareness of the need for change and convince the naysayers that man is responsible for global warming and its consequences for our climate and life on Earth.
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Pingback: Earth Day 2013: The Face of Climate Change | deokie
Rosaliene,
I too was struck by your impressive statement “I am the face of climate change. I cannot claim innocence. I am the cause and the solution.” I guess we are all guilty to some extent for not being more environmentally conscious and friendly. Your article was timely for the observation of Earth Day yesterday, April 22.
There has been much abuse caused to the earth to deface it and its natural resources and beauty are being scarred, especially by irresponsible industries and individuals. The destruction of the land, animals and trees, and the pollution of oceans, rivers and streams that impact fish life and reefs are increasingly widespread. We need to be more aware on all the harm we are causing to our environment and take action… by getting involved in programs and activities that will curb further destruction to the earth and find solutions to restore and revitalize the environment.
There have been widespread reports of environmental destruction and pollution on the environment throughout the world, even more in countries were there are less supervision and monitoring systems.
We don’t realize it, but the careless disregard for the earth based out our actionsthat contribute to its destruction and pollution is like messing on the same table we are eating. That may not be a nice analogy but it may appropriate. We need to change our unhealthy ways and habits.
We need to change the practice of pollution and destruction of the earth and stop defacing it and give it a facelift.
Thanks for your article and for stimulating awareness to make this earth, our home, a better place.
Deen
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Thanks, Deen. I’m doing my small part in spreading awareness of our need for action in curbing the continued warming of our planet and the consequences for the quality of life.
While your analogy may not be nice, it expresses well what we are doing to the planet that sustains us. The foods we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe are contaminated with the toxins we use in our agricultural and industrial pursuits.
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We have many options but two opposites come to mind.
Ignore at our peril.
Do something about it.
Most would ignore but the fewer who decide to do some thing about
needs all the encouragement we can give/highlight.
I occupy 10.000M2 land in southern Spain where I only use a fraction
of it for my “frugal existence”…Latin America will overtake USA as the “food
basket” of the planet….with greedy corporations actively soliciting their
governments consent in exploitation for profit.
Politricks !
Just check out the price of food in your local supermarkets and you get
the message…it is cheaper to buy “imports” than local produce…
Short term thinking driven by the greed of “profitability”…unsustainable.
Sooner than later the situation will be reversed with third world countries
producing the food of the planet ….. corporations /marketeers exploiting
them for “profit”… they have the power to do so…money and influence.
But as I am forever the optimist my final comment
We shall see ! How things develop …..
Kamptan
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Rosaliene
The decision to clean up the planet must be a political one ….unfortunately
the economic argument usually wins over the political side….
Influence and corruption usually the “deciding factors”
Political correctness !
I will direct my attack to our political elite by questioning their “stupidity”
even exposing them by my openness in my writings….pointing my finger
in their direction…if I offend it may annoy but it stimulates their thinking !
Remain silent not an option.
Kamptan
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I agree with you, Kamptan. Silence is not an option.
Governments cannot pass regulations for protecting and cleaning up our environment when they are controlled by the corporations responsible for the mess in the first place.
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Just read this news report: “Historic Water Shortages Prompt Government Restrictions in Colorado River Basin.”
http://ecowatch.com/2013/water-shortages-government-restrictions-co-river/
16 August 2013
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Check out photos, taken in May 2015, of water levels in Lake Mead, America’s largest reservoir at the following link:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/water-level-in-lake-mead-largest-resevoir-in-the-us-drops-150-feet-in-14-yeaars-slideshow/85215989-photo-1431758785607.html
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