Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the nation, has dropped so low there's concern the Hoover Dam will soon be unable to generate hydro power.
2022 - Hoover Dam on Lake Mead
The Colorado River that feeds Lake Mead in Nevada, is the primary source of water for more than 40 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and Mexico.
The extended drought across the desert Southwest that began in 2000 has starved the river to its current low flows
The ever increasing demand for water across the Southwest has drained the lake to such a low level that it is now dangerously close to what is known as "deadpool," the level where the dam's hydro power turbines would be shut off for the first time in its 86 year history!
The Lake Mead reservoir has dropped by about 160 feet since the drought started, 26 feet since July 2021 alone, clearly evident by the white “bathtub ring” left behind on the shoreline
Climate change is expected to reduce river flows by an additional 5 - 20% over the next 40 years
The western United States and Mexico have ongoing battles over water rights to the Colorado River and Lake Mead
The American desert Southwest is just that, a desert. With less than 20 inches of rainfall a year in some places, it’s just not practical to have a traditional landscape like those in the East and Midwestern parts of the country
Xeriscape practices can create equally as beautiful landscapes that significantly reduce water use by incorporating drought tolerant native and adapted plants that, once established, can survive mostly on rainfall with a minimal amount a supplemental irrigation
For more information about Xeriscaping, check out additional posts by Xeric Gardens on their web site and Facebook page:
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