Better numbers for Lake Mead
Just a couple hours ago I made reference to a study that claimed Lake Mead has a 50 percent chance of drying up by 2021. On a slightly more optimistic side, researchers at the University of Colorado released on Tuesday a report that says there is a less than 5 percent chance of the reservoir drying up by 2021. It says there is a 40 percent chance that it will go dry in any given year after 2050.
Says the guy with the earlier more dire numbers:
“The point is, whether it’s 40 percent in 2050 or 40 percent by 2030, that’s a hell of a problem. The main factor is we’re taking more water out of the system than Mother Nature is putting in. And as long as that’s true, you can tell what’s going to happen. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist.”
It’s complex stuff and seems like a moving target as our desert cities continue to grow, but I think we can all agree that any percentage higher than 0 is just a little higher than we’d like.
Category: Environment