In 2002, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming had the driest or near-driest summer since meteorologists began taking notes more than a century ago. By October, Los Angeles had had only 1.61 inches of rain. November and December delivered five more inches, but the total was far below the average of 15 inches a year. The Colorado river ran at 14% of its normal flow, a loo-year low. And many think there is worse to come. Drought is no stranger to the west, but each visit is more punishing. Previously reliable water-sources, such as aquifers, are shrinking; populations are growing; American Indian water rights are more strictly enforced; endangered species are more fiercely protected. In previous droughts, cities and irrigators simply built more dams, dug deeper wells, sliced wider canals and diverted streams. Few such options are available today.
展开▼
