CBSNews
Mon, June 7, 2021, 6:25 AM·4 min read
This morning, our series "Eye on Earth" looks at the punishing drought gripping much of the western U.S.
Scientists are calling it a "mega-drought" brought on by climate change.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map shows large areas of the Southwest are "exceptionally dry," the worst category.
It's taking a dramatic toll on the Colorado River system that provides water to 40 million people in seven states — and may force the federal government to make a drastic and historic decision.
For more than eight decades, the iconic Hoover Dam has relied on water from Nevada's Lake Mead to cover up its backside. But now, at age 85, it finds itself uncomfortably exposed. Much of the water the dam is supposed to be holding back is gone.
"This is like a different world," said Pat Mulroy, the former head of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. She told CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy that Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, is on track to soon hit its lowest level ever recorded.
This part of the Colorado River system is a crucial water supply for Las Vegas, Phoenix and Southern California. It makes the vast agricultural land of the desert Southwest possible.
Mulroy said, "This landscape screams problems to me. I mean, just look at the bathtub rings. To me, that is an enormous wake up call."
MORE HERE:
http://news.yahoo.com/mega-drought-depletes-system-provides-132518959.html
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