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June 5, 2015
Check out our infographic on California's Drought
On June 2, a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the status of the drought in the West painted a grim picture of the ongoing drought affecting an increasing number of western states. Testimony from witnesses communicated a wealth of scientific data supporting a growing sentiment among experts: the present conditions may represent a “new normal”—longer dry periods and insufficient water supply—for much of the western United States. Witnesses further elaborated on actions that could remediate the situation.
Witnesses depicted a crisis moving far beyond California, where the national spotlight has hovered. James D. Osgbury, Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association, noted that while conditions there have been most severe, “California is not the only state experiencing drought.” Not by a long shot. Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) cited a recent survey finding 57 percent of the West is now experiencing “moderate to exceptional drought.”
Tom Loranger, Water Resources Program Manager of the Washington State Department of Ecology, reported record low snowpack in Washington’s mountains this year and alluded to worsening circumstances for their neighbors, Oregon and Idaho. Thomas Buschatzke, Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, stated that 85 percent of his state is experiencing “abnormally dry” to “severe drought” conditions, as runoff from the Colorado River continues to be below average and water levels at Lake Mead continue to fall. These testimonies reflect the broadening impact of a drought that has now led governors from 12 states to declare states of emergency.
Significantly, experts contend the drought isn’t a fluke consequence of some climate anomaly, as some seem to suggest. As California and other states trudge through an unprecedented fourth year of severe drought, studies published in journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences find that dryer conditions may be the “new normal” for the western United States, and they are likely linked to climate change. Several panelists suggested climate change could worsen drought conditions in the West.
The consequences of drought are far-reaching: testimony from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) mentioned that 93 million people—close to 30 percent of the U.S. population—are in areas affected by drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The drought’s impact on the Golden State is especially striking. People’s access to water is being curtailed, with California having activated statewide mandatory water restrictions this month in an effort to cut its municipal water use by a quarter. The regulations are expected to drive up water rates for consumers as suppliers lose revenue.
As the fifth largest agricultural producer in the world—supplying 17 percent of U.S. crops—drought places California under exceptional threat. Recent conditions have plagued the agricultural industry with crop failures and a shrinking groundwater supply. Thousands of jobs have been lost due to the drought, and in an unprecedented move, many of the state’s farmers agreed to voluntarily cut their water use by 25 percent. A recent study estimated the drought will cost California’s agriculture industry $2.7 billion this year.
Throughout the West, local economies may face a range of other consequences, including a decline in tourism revenue. “The connection between drought and water quality is especially important in the context of tourism; people value clean water to swim in, fish from and raft through,” said Osgbury of the Western Governors’ Association. Additionally, energy generation, particularly from hydroelectric sources, is vulnerable to drought. Buschatzke of the Arizona Department of Water Resources stated that the Hoover Dam’s electricity production will be sliced in half if water levels at Lake Mead drop below 1,000 feet. In late April, Lake Mead reached a historic low of 1,080 feet.
Betsy A. Cody from CRS brought attention to long-term, less anticipated aspects of the drought, “such as soil compaction and subsidence, which can affect the capacity of groundwater aquifers, saline water intrusion at coasts and estuaries, changes to soil structure and health, wildfire potential, and expansion of invasive species.” Indeed, many attribute the drought as a major factor in the documented uptick in wildfires faced by the West in recent years. As more money is spent fighting fires, less funding is available for efforts to prevent them. The cost of wildfires in the past several years has put a huge strain on the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to focus on its core function, forestry management.
In her opening remarks, Senator Murkowski highlighted the complex position of the federal government in responding to drought. “What is the federal government’s most appropriate role in addressing longer term solutions – given tight budgets, and that much of what happens with water in the West is actually managed by the states?” she asked.
Tensions between the states and federal government were evident. After acknowledging some of the efforts spearheaded by the Interior Department to address the drought, Buschatzke said that federal actions taken to aid California must not come at the expense of his home state, Arizona. “Arizona already takes the lion’s share of shortages and it is clear there is an increasing risk of deeper shortages on the River,” Buschatzke said. “Secretarial actions that might further impact Arizona are not warranted and would not be equitable.” A common thread throughout was the need for increased collaboration between the federal, state and local levels.
Senator Murkowski expressed particular interest in "hearing from those who are on the ground and how they are meeting the challenges” regarding the drought. Some solutions and areas for further consideration by states and lawmakers included:
Though the witnesses presented an impressive range of strategies to address the drought—both tested and inventive—Connor stressed the realities of the current situation, and that trying times lie ahead. “Climate change is already exacerbating water scarcity in the West, and we understand that these effects will intensify over the coming decade,” he said. “We know that neither the Federal government nor the communities we serve can simply build, conserve, recycle or regulate our way out of these challenges, or rely on only one option to meet the challenges we face. Rather, we understand the need to take a multi-faceted, long-term approach to diversifying our western water portfolio, and working to achieve lasting results.”
Author: Billy Lee
Infographic: Rachael Shook
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