Archive
Decreased Water Flow Projected to Colorado River Basin
Colorado is no stranger to drought especially as the current one is closing in on 20 years with no trajectory change in sight. The drought is the second worst 20-year period in the past 1,200 years, according to Bradley Udall, a senior climate and water scientist at Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center. This summer/fall alone had some of the hottest spells on record and the worst wildfire season ever. “Aridification” is what Udall formally calls the situation that is currently occurring in the western U.S. But perhaps more accurately, he calls it hot drought which is heat-induced lack of […]
Water Futures Join Wall Street
Water has now joined oil, gold, and other commodities traded on Wall Street, highlighting worries that the life-sustaining natural resource may become scarce across more of the world. The contracts, a first of their kind in the U.S., were announced in September of this year as heat and wildfires ravaged the U.S. West Coast and as California was emerging from an eight-year drought. They are meant to serve both as a hedge for big water consumers, such as almond farmers and electric utilities, against water prices fluctuations as well a scarcity gauge for investors worldwide. Farmers, hedge funds and municipalities […]
Severe Drought Affecting Colorado and Half the U.S.
As the forecast remains dry, drought continues to climb. The latest drought monitor update shows a significant milestone. The ‘Abnormally Dry’ category, that was previously keeping Colorado out of the 100% drought category by a small margin, has been replaced by areas of Moderate drought in North Colorado. This means the entire state is experiencing drought, not just a dry category or higher. The most recent time this happened was July 9, 2013[1]. That was part of a long stretch of drought conditions across Colorado. Another notable change is the increase in Severe drought conditions. With areas of Moderate drought being overtaken […]
Identifying States’ Vulnerability to Drought
When thinking of states that are most impacted or vulnerable to drought, the Western region of the country would be the most referenced area as they are suffering under hot and dry conditions and raging wildfires. However, according to a newly published assessment funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)[1], there are more factors involved in what makes a state more vulnerable to droughts than just a lack of rain. The assessment looked at a combination of how susceptible a state is to drought and whether it is prepared for the impacts of the drought. Each state was […]
Statewide Significant Drought Declared in Massachusetts
Following a month of unusually high temperatures in July and August paired with limited rainfall, Massachusetts state officials have declared a Level 2 drought for all regions, urging citizens to closely monitor and limit their water consumption. The Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, Kathleen Theoharides, declared a “Level 2 – Significant Drought” in all of the state’s regions this past week, according to a joint statement from Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Drought Management Task Force, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. “The combination of three months of limited rainfall and well above normal temperatures through July and early August […]