Free Essay

Water Crsis

In:

Submitted By yosfe34
Words 1010
Pages 5
The Great Basin of North America and Wyoming specifically, is known for its arid and semi-arid environment, as well as prolonged and sometimes severe droughts. Drought is the prolonged and abnormal deficiency of moisture with the concomitant decline in runoff to a level significantly lower than usual (Guldin 1989). The history of droughts in Wyoming has been uncertain in the past, but recent studies of tree rings in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming have given insight to droughts as far back as 1260A.D. (Gray et al. 2004). Looking at tree ring records in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) trees, Stephen Gray and his colleagues discovered that droughts which have been experienced in Wyoming since the 1750's, are weak in severity and length when compared to those since. The most severe drought period in Wyoming’s history occurred from 1262 to 1281. The droughts of the 1930’s and 1950’s, which have been used as benchmarks for all other droughts in the United States in recent times (Woodhouse et al. 2002), are ranked 149th and 28th respectively in comparison (Gray et al. 2004). The five top ranking droughts for 10, 15, and 20 year periods are all prior to the 1800’s, with the four driest single years being 1263, 1274, 1278, and 1280 (Gray et al. 2004). This indicates a change in precipitation patterns in the Big Horn Basin area of Wyoming since the 18th century, as all recent droughts have been mild when compared to those of Wyoming’s past.

Droughts in Wyoming’s future are unpredictable and uncertain; however, Richard Guldin of the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station in Fort Collins, Colorado, has made some predictions for the water situation in the United States as far ahead as 2040. According to Guldin, 526,600 million gallons of freshwater will be withdrawn per day in the year 2040 versus the 385,200 million gallons used in the year 2000 (Guldin 1989). These estimates account for use of groundwater, surface water, and wastewater by thermoelectric steam cooling, irrigation, municipal central supply, industrial self-supply, domestic self-supply, and livestock watering purposes, with the greatest user being thermoelectric steam cooling followed by irrigation. Guldin also divided the freshwater usage by region with the Rocky Mountains using a total of 48,631 million gallons in 2040 (Guldin 1989). Along with water usage estimates, Guldin also forecasts the effects lack of water will have on land usage, stating that “agricultural operations that are dependant upon irrigation will either change to dry-land farming or cropland will revert to native vegetation” (Guldin 1989). He projects that nearly 160 million acres of cropland will be idled by 2030 due to lack of water resources.

Another cause for lack of water in the intermountain West is due to the heightened levels of immigration from Pacific coast states such as California, as well as others. The majority of those immigrating are doing so for more preferable climate in the drier environments, yet they are landscaping the municipalities in the same manner as their original communities. This large-scale landscaping, and maintenance of that landscaping, requires large quantities of water from an already dry ecosystem.

Droughts have various effects on the water resource, rangeland, and animal populations in Wyoming. Another study, which looks at tree-ring records, suggests that a small, severe, and persistent drought from 1845 to 1856 may have played a large role in the disappearance of the North American bison (bison bison) from the Great Plains (Woodhouse et al. 2002). Other studies in the 1930's and 1950's found that grass in the shortgrass uplands was reduced, in some cases from 90% to 20%, even in ungrazed areas during the drought of the mid-nineteenth century (Woodhouse et al. 2002). Yet another study conducted in Yellowstone National Park, found that the drought experienced in 1988 reduced some warm-season grasses by as much as 50% of normal (Singer et al. 1989). Yellowstone Park staff stated that 60% of the Northern herd of elk in Yellowstone died off in the winter of 1919-1920, which followed the drought of 1919 (Singer et al. 1989).

The history of Wyoming’s droughts has been extremely variable and unpredictable over time with the longest and most severe droughts occurring prior to the eighteenth century. Droughts have been experienced since that time, but have been much less pronounced and shorter. Future droughts are hard to predict, but are guaranteed to occur as the area is noted for its arid characteristics. Droughts in Wyoming’s future will have a more devastating effect due to the increased need for water in the dry environment, caused by the immigration from more populous states, and higher populations in general. Drought also has pronounced effects on the rangeland and ecosystem as a whole, which is evidenced by the contribution it made to the disappearance of the buffalo from the Great Plains, the winterkill of the Northern herd of elk in Yellowstone National Park following the 1919 drought, and the large reduction of forage production associated with drought. Wyoming is assured to have droughts in the future and they will continue to be costly on an ecological and economical level.

Works Cited:

Gray et al. 2004. Tree-Ring-Based Reconstruction of Precipitation in the

Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, since 1260 A.D. Journal of Climate. Vol.17 Issue 19: 3855-3865.

Growing thirst, A. 2003. Economist. Vol. 366 Issue 8308: 34.

Guldin, Richard W. 1989. An Analysis of the Water Situation in the United

States: 1989-2040. USDA General Technological Report RM-177.

Heitschmidt et al. 1999. Drought and Grazing I: Effects on quantity of

forage produced. Journal of Range Management. Vol. 52: 440-446.

Hild et al. 2001. Drought and Grazing III: root dynamics and germinable

seed bank. Journal of Range Management. Vol. 54: 292-298.

Singer et al. 1989. Drought, Fires, and Large Mammals. BioScience.

Vol. 39: 716-722.

Woodhouse et al. 2002. Drought in the Western Great Plains, 1845-56:

Impacts and Implications. Bulletin of American Meteorological Society. Vol. 83: 1485-1492.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Monsanto Seed Are They Safe

...Monsanto Seed are they Safe Richard Moore Globe University Abstract Does Monsanto Enhanced seed have the necessary impact on the local farmers as well as the most barren or hard to grow crops? Does providing the enhanced seed to local and international groups around the world help in providing the necessary crop yield to feed the families without damaging the t local ecosystem? They are a leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed and of the herbicide glyphosate, which it markets under the Roundup brand. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses known to compete with commercial crops grown around the globe. Is using the weed killer Rounds an ethical thing to do when it has the potential to harm plans and animals? Monsanto seeds are they Safe Does Monsanto maintain an ethical culture that can effectively respond to various stakeholders? Like any other large firm, Monsanto also has the responsibility to maintain an ethical culture that can respond effectively to stakeholders when issues arise.   There are issues with their products that still need to be resolved including the risks to health and damage to the environment.   They also need to enforce their code of ethics to mitigate employee misconduct.   Although Monsanto has made ethical mistakes in the past, it is trying to remedy this. Monsanto accepts full responsibility for its employees’ behavior. The incidents showed that although...

Words: 778 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Role of Social Support in Coping with Hiv/Aids

...THE CHORES TIME-TABLE CHORES TIMES MONDAY TUESDAY WENSDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 5:45 MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin MOM-takes out dust bin 6:00-6:30 Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal Mom wakes everyone up and makes cereal 7:00-7:30 Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden Zolisa waters the garden 8:00-10:00 Nozodwa sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Nozodwa sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Nozodwa sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Xolisa-sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Nozodwa sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Mawande-sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom Nozodwa sweeps, mops and cleans bathroom 13:00-14:00 Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast Each individual makes own breakfast 15:00-16:30 Mawande-Preparing supper Xolisa-Preparing supper Mawande-Preparing supper Mawande-Preparing supper Xolisa-Preparing supper Mom-Preparing supper Mom-Preparing supper 17:30-18:00 Zolisa...

Words: 570 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Wasted Water

...Wasted Water Water is the most important resource to human life and without it we would perish very quickly. “We could survive for several weeks without food, but for only a few days without freshwater” (Miller & Spoolman, 2013, p.238). Water also plays a key role in shaping the earth’s surface, controlling the climate and helping to remove and dilute some of the pollutants that exist (Miller & Spoolman, 2013). If that is the case, why do we take such huge advantage of this valuable resource? One reason I believe we do is there is a belief that exists in all of us that water is abundant and will always be here. There is some truth to that by the amount of water that is here on earth but this is deceiving because that is sea water and the salt levels in sea water is too high for us to consume or use in our homes and lives like we do now. But regardless of how important this source is, we continue to waste it and at a good rate. “According to water resource expert Mohamed El-Ashry of World Resources institute, about 66% of the freshwater used in the world and about 50% of the freshwater used in the United States is unnecessarily wasted” (Miller & Spoolman, 2013, p. 251). He goes on to state that if we can reduce our waste to 15%, that would be enough to meet the water needs of the world for the foreseeable future (Miller & Spoolman, 2013). I chose critical thinking question number four at the end of chapter 11 which asks to calculate how many liters and gallons of water are wasted...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Gaza

...NB: This exercise will be dealt with after taking Practical 3:1 page: 36 The following article from the British newspaper The Independent contains culturally specific items related to weather. Translate it into Arabic using the translation techniques you have studied in Chapter Three. [pic] Get ready for a white Easter: Snow and icy blasts set to last all week - but Britain could see a heatwave next month Authorities have warned drivers and pedestrians to be aware of black ice Freezing weather conditions are continuing to cause disruption today as forecasters predicted that icy temperatures and snow showers could last right up until Easter Day. Many roads across Britain remain impassable and thousands of homes are still without power after heavy snow and blizzard conditions deluged the UK over the weekend. Authorities have warned drivers and pedestrians to be aware of the possibility of black ice during the morning commute. Forecasters have also warned that there is no immediate end to the icy conditions in sight with the cold weather and snow expected to last into the weekend. Despite an end to the heavy snow, forecasters say the severe weather could return on Good Friday. The current forecast suggests that Britain could experience its first white Easter in five years. Several thousand households in Scotland remain without electricity today, down from a peak of about 18,000. The isle of Arran and parts of the south-west mainland of Scotland were particularly...

Words: 726 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Rain Came

...In the story The Rain Came I think the village lives different from what we would consider the norm. The village has been in a drought for a while now and they really need water. So in the past, their ancestors would sacrifice on of their own to make it rain. For me this is a taboo. No one around me would see this as a way of life. He was a young man when he took the oath so that could have been a factor of him thinking that he would never have to come through with it. He had twenty children and Oganda was the only daughter that he loved very much. Also she will soon have to marry at a young age and leave his side. He feels that he needs to spent more time with her before she has to leave and also he wants to see her get married. Oganda made Labong’o a better chief and without her his spirit will vanish. On the other hand if he doesn’t go through with it would mean that the whole tribe would be sacrificed. The story says that he would be than putting the best interest of an individual above the society and dis obeying the ancestors. Also the Luo tribe would be wiped off the face of the earth. The story talks about how another lady had to sacrifice herself from going into the lake. It says that she is also a young lady and the village had rain coming down in torrents. The chief must sacrifice his only daughter for the village to have rain. You can imagine how the chief must feel to have his daughter go through with this. In the story he takes an oath “I will lay down life...

Words: 432 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Global Warming

...widely discussed factors. It has far-reaching impact on biodiversity and climatic conditions of the planet. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming is directly impacting on rising sea levels, the melting of ice caps and significant worldwide climate changes. In short, global warming represents a fundamental threat to all living things on earth. The greenhouse effect and global warming are issues that are talked about by geologists all the time. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps the earth at temperatures that are livable. Energy from the sun warms the earth when its heat rays are absorbed by greenhouse gasses and become trapped in the atmosphere. Some of the most common greenhouse gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. If there were no greenhouse gasses, very few rays would be absorbed and the earth would be extremely cold. When too many rays are absorbed, the earths atmosphere starts to warm, which leads to global warming. Global warming can lead to many problems that affect the environment in which we live. In order to talk about global warming, we...

Words: 1045 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Mars

...being able to breath. In order to create oxygen, plants would need to be produced. The surface on Mars is rocky, so flattening the surface would need to happen first. Then creating a dome just to grow plants would be necessary. Once the plants have grown, I would remove the dome so the plants could create and release oxygen throughout Mars. More domes would need to be built to produce more oxygen needed for survival. With more oxygen being in the air, organisms would be able to survive on Mars. With Mars being so cold it made things even more difficult to survive. The freezing temperatures make it virtually impossible for plants, organisms, and humans to survive. Without water, survival is also impossible; if Mars was closer to the Sun, the frozen ice would be able to melt and then create water for the living organisms. Before human beings could actually create homes on Mars lots of big changes would need to be done. People think they can just wear a spacesuit and be fine but then this means living in this suit forever and never being able to get out of the suit. First of all, the air is very unhealthy to breathe. The air would have to be filtered to make it possible to breathe on Mars. A magnet would be a perfect filter for the clean air process needed on Mars. These are a few of the changes that would need to be performed on Mars to start the process of habitability on...

Words: 362 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Acting Locally Paper

...Acting Locally Paper Crystal Dillon-Reeves BIO/289 February 25,2013 Dennis Kostac Acting Locally Paper The Shut-In Mountain Fen has some of the wettest and the driest habitats that are founf in the state of Missouri. This particular wetland fen has the most diverse ecological community and habitats found in the state. The Shut-In Mountain Fens preserve features of more than 15 types of fen communities ("Missouri Shut-In Fens", 2010). It is located in the Ozark Mountains in the southern central part of the state. In 2010, researchers found the rare carnivorous palnt called the Small Bladderwort growing here. The plant is an aquatic plant species that floats on the ponds, lakes and marshes with almost no root system. This animal eating plant feeds off of aquatic invertebrates, such as mosquito larvae, protozoans and tiny crustaceans. That is not the only thing that has been found in the plants traps though. Small tadpoles and newly hatched fish have also been found to fall prey to this carnivorous plant. The Small Bladderwort is Missouri’s only carnivorous plant. A plant eating animals is a rare quality, so to find one around where you live is an exciting thing. The plant does not really have an intrinsic value. It is mainly just about what they are and what they are about. It is not thought that this plant has any beneficial use to humans, other than the plant is hughly unique. The Shut-In Mountain fen is also the only home to the Current River Saddled Darter. This fish species...

Words: 828 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Dehydration

...essay will focus on dehydration, and water in the body how it is function. The reason water essential to health maintenance and what water can do to the body if not enough is obtained. This essay will mention how the body level based on hydration has on alcohol and caffeine. Sodium, potassium, and chloride compare and contrast how these different electrolytes function in the body. I will also explain the steps to take to ensure people not become dehydrated. Dehydration means excessive loss of water resulting in depletion of body fluids (Grosvenor & Smolin (2006). Dehydration is that you lose more fluid than you take in which occurs because there is not enough water and other fluids in the body to function normal. Dehydration can be prevented by drinking about eight- nine glasses of water a day. Water is essential to health maintenance is that over half of your body weight is water. Every cell in our body carries out the presence of the universal solvent. A person sweat during exercise water with waste is flushed out of your body. Water is needed to prevent dehydration this helps to maintain proper metabolism in our body. All the body tissues varying proportions of water is found in 60% of body weight in adults is water, in a child the water percentage is the highest. The functions of water in the body are for digesting food. Water also helps to cushion our joints and prevents shocks in them. A person will know when he or she have enough water when he or she urine will be lightly...

Words: 1009 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Nothing

...Aswan High Dam This dam was built to supply irrigation water, although only half of the water expected is there now. This is mainly because evaporation and seepage. 2 This dam was built to supply irrigation water, although only half of the water expected is there now. This is mainly because evaporation and seepage. 2 Index Index…...........................................................1 Aswan High Dam…………………………………………..2 Bangladesh…………………………………………………..3 Colorado River Basin…………………………………….4 James Bay, Canada….......................................5 Ogallala Aquifer……………………………………………6 Three Gorges Dam………………………………………..7 Florida Everglades…………………………………………8 Florida Everglades The Florida Everglades is one of the three largest national parks in the US. It also contains an ecosystem not found anywhere else in the world. A huge reservoir called the Floridan Aquifer lies around 1000 ft. below. 8 The Florida Everglades is one of the three largest national parks in the US. It also contains an ecosystem not found anywhere else in the world. A huge reservoir called the Floridan Aquifer lies around 1000 ft. below. 8 Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam increased the quantity reservoirs hydroelectric stations, abundantly. It also cause 1.2 million people to relocate. 7 The Three Gorges Dam increased the quantity reservoirs hydroelectric stations, abundantly. It also cause 1.2 million people...

Words: 474 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Ocean

...The Ocean The ocean makes up around 70% of the Earth’s surface. It is divided into several separate oceans which interconnect bodies of salt water. The major oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Artic Ocean. The ocean has many functions. It keeps the Earth’s temperature moderate by absorbing solar radiation. It is then stored as heat energy which is distributed around the globe by the ocean currents. This keeps the land and air warm during the winter and cools it down during the summer. According to MarineBio, temperature and density share an inverse relationship. As temperature increases, the density—spaces between the water molecules—decreases. On the other hand, salinity and density share a positive relationship. As density increases so does the salinity—the amount of salt in the water. Temperature will always change within the depths of the ocean because warm seawater floats and cold seawater sinks. When the temperature, density, or salinity of a layer of ocean changes rapidly, the region is known as a cline. Thermoclines are areas of rapid change in temperature, where most people swim in the ocean and are the most important. Pycnoclines are areas of rapid change in density and haloclines are areas of rapid change in salinity. Living in San Francisco, the ocean is pretty hard to ignore. Around my neighborhood tons of people head out to Ocean Beach on a hot sunny day. Watching the waves go back and forth from the shore to the ocean is hypnotizing...

Words: 624 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Island Beverages

...ISLAND BEVERAGES Island Beverages is a Company that is engaged in the production and distribution of hygienic and healthy drinking water . The competition in this market is on the rise due to increased competitors in the market. In order to establish as a better firm in this competitive market , island beverages must rebuild their brand image and make the customers believe that it is the best germ-free , clean and healthy drinking water. The major production process of the island beverages company is well equipped with appropriate and efficient use of machinery. Although , there are various fields that require further improvements in order to boost the brand image of the company . Following are the diverse issues / problems that must be solved for the enrichment of the company : Q.1.The cleaning process of the bottles must get better. The cleaning process of the company can get better if they start using boiler instead of using an automatic cleaner in the cleaning process , where the bottles are boiled at a considerable temperature in order to clean the bottle from external as well as internal side. In addition to the above solution , another alternative is to discourage manual cleaning as it can be very exhaustive for a man to work for so many long hours which would be inefficient as well. Q.2.The process of packing the bottles can be made efficient. There are several chances that while in the process of filling the bottles, the bottles...

Words: 427 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Lotion

...CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the Study The rapid development of industrial activities over the past few years had an immense contribution to the growing dilemma water pollution. Heavy toxic metals which constitute most of the contaminated water have inevitably resulted in a substantial increase in level of metallic substances in water system. Water pollution alters the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water which in turn, affects man’s activity concerning water system. Lead is widely used in many industrial applications such as storage battery manufacturing, printing, pigments, fuels, photographic materials and explosive manufacturing. Lead is highly toxic as its presence in drinking water above the permissible limit (5 mg/mL) causes adverse health effects such as anemia, encephalopathy, hepatitis and nephritic syndrome. In recent years, technological advancement have seen the development of effective methods of isolating and removing toxic metals from industrial effluents. The most important technologies include chemical precipitation, electro flotation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis and adsorption using activated carbon. However, these methods have limitation on selective separation and high cost of investment and operation of equipment. Bearing in mind the need to develop a cheaper substitute, the proponents explored the possibility of using banana peel in the removal lead (II) ions in aqueous solution. Banana peel is the protective...

Words: 329 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Golf Course Irrigation: Flowing with Technology

...assistance. A hired employee worked the overnight hours watering the golf course using couplers attached to sprinkler heads. The irrigation employee would insert the required amount of heads to allow for proper water distribution, too many heads and water pressure suffers causing inadequate watering, too few heads and the underground pipe runs the risk of high pressure blow outs. Something better had to come about, using hydraulic pressure to regulate a valve at each sprinkler head and attaching that to a control box in the field, the turf managers can now set up a watering cycle during the day to automatically run at night. But these were mainly just timers and pins, very limited. Today we are using computer programs that can calculate everything needed to water a golf course both efficiently and effectively. By giving the irrigation software the data to establish water capabilities and demands, the software can distribute water throughout the golf course. With the popularity of The Masters Golf tournament every spring and the perfect conditions of Augusta National shown on television has every weekend hacker asking his local course why our course can’t look like that. By harnessing the efficiency of water distribution of today’s irrigation systems courses are using less water, saving resources and most importantly money. The money saved can increase labor forces or increase other aspects of...

Words: 494 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Memo&&&

...COMMUNICATION STRATEGY: REVEAL THE CDEP FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC [MANCOM Memorandum Assignment] Prepared by Ekaterina Afanasyeva Prepared for Dr. Steve D. Ugbah Managerial Communication California State University, East Bay Marketing 6210.01 March 22, 2013 MEMO Plan SUBJECT: Communication strategy: revealing the CDEP findings to the public DUE DATE: March 13, 2013 PURPOSE: ( Direct RESOURCES: Mr. Martinson’s Company profile; The GDEP Case File; Minutes of Mr. Martinson’s meeting with GDEP Officials; the GDEP preliminary feedings. DOCUMENT TYPE: ( Memorandum AUDIENCE: Readers Needs and Priorities 1. Walter Martinson, President His priorities are the reputation AEI, maintaining good relations with the local authorities, the CDEP and other independent organization that can influence the sustainability of his business, ensuring that the company has reliable partners (sub-contractors, suppliers, etc.). In particular he is worried about the possibility that the pollution in Atlanta area could be connected to his company directly and then he needs to know how to deal with the problem or indirectly and then he needs to know how to prevent the gossips. In any case he needs to know how to deliver the news to the public without damaging the reputation of his company. 2. The Executive Committee Avoid leakage of the information and activities that can negatively influence the IPO...

Words: 1056 - Pages: 5