By Gavin Hudson •
May 22, 2009
Editor’s note: This post was written by Emily Loose at the WILD Foundation. It follows up on Jake Richardson’s earlier post.
The future of a rare herd of desert elephants in Mali is under threat from one of the worst droughts in living memory, which has left a key water source at its lowest level in a quarter of a century.
The 350 to 450 elephants of Gourma, the northernmost herds still alive in Africa, are being forced to trek extreme distances across the fringes of the Sahara to find scarce water. Juveniles are likely the worst affected, as (unlike the bigger bulls) their trunks are not long enough to reach deep into wells - one of the only remaining water sources.
The worst drought in 26 years is threatening the survival of a rare herd of desert elephants in Mali. A number have already died and more are struggling to survive. Save the Elephants is taking donations to help the elephants before they die.
By Becky Striepe •
April 1, 2009
It’s been stormy here in Atlanta. We’ve had a wet winter and rainy early spring. In a drought-stricken region like this, you tend to hear variations on the same joke every time it rains: “Well, I guess that pesky drought is over!”
With all the rain this week, some folks have once again been saying we’re out of the drought. Only this time, it was no joke.
Georgia’s state climatologist, David Stooksbury, declared the drought over this week. All of the good rain we’ve had lately has apparently pulled North Georgia out of its water shortage with the exception of Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell basins. So as long as you don’t count the two lakes where we get a large part of the region’s water, the drought is over!
Wait, what?
By Marika Collins •
March 20, 2009
Sunday March 22, 2009 is World Water Day. With the world water crisis representing one of the most significant public health issues facing the world today, we need to find ways to conserve this precious resource now more than ever.
The UN expects that 3.4 billion people will be living in countries defined as water-scarce by 2025. When water is scarce, people are forced to consume contaminated water.
Here are ten simple things you can do to cut down on your water consumption today:
By Kay Sexton •
March 13, 2009
Global warming forces natural resources into unnatural conditions, and the people who rely on them are similarly forced into unnatural positions
By John Chappell •
February 25, 2009
Despite recent rains throughout the state, California has recently instituted water restrictions to many farms in the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural epicenter of the nation. In fact drought conditions are already so severe that they have forced authorities to eliminate all water for agriculture in California’s San Joaquin Valley for three weeks beginning March 1st. This might not be troubling if it wasn’t happening so early in the year.
The impact on the people and economy of the state could also be severe. The Department of Water Resources has stated in relation to the water crisis in California.
“The drought could cause an estimated $1.15 billion dollar loss in agriculture-related wages and eliminate as many as 40,000 jobs in farm-related industries in the San Joaquin Valley alone, where most of the nation’s produce and nuts are grown.”
Read here for the full Associated Press article on the anticipated drought and its effects.
By Bryan Nelson •
January 30, 2009
Australian climate officials are blaming global warming for another summer of record heatwaves, as baked Southern Australians ready for six days in a row of 100-120 degree Fahrenheit temperatures.
In Melbourne, rail lines buckled in the heat as trains were canceled citywide, while in Adelaide free water bottles were being handed out to help keep parched travelers hydrated while they waited out major transportation delays. Over 140,000 homes were left without electricity as the electric grid strained to keep air conditioners running.
Even the Australian Open tennis tournament had to suspend its outdoor games due to the sweltering conditions. Novak Djokovic, the Open’s defending champion, dramatically pulled out of his quarter-final match against Andy Roddick because of the heat.
By Becky Striepe •
January 19, 2009
Texas is in a worsening drought situation, too, which is leading to cattle deaths. There’s no grass for the poor cows to graze on because there has been so little rain. The lack of food means they’re too weak to survive the cold January temperatures. It’s hard to grow anything when there are such long periods in between rainstorms.
So how can those of us in these drought-stricken areas save the precious little water we get when it does rain? How about installing a rain barrel or two!
I have to admit here that I’m not the most handy person. My husband, Dave, and his dad, Denis, did most of the installing, while I provided moral support (aka: snacks and beer). The project can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. Here are some tips straight from Dave and Denis on getting started!
By Becky Striepe •
January 6, 2009
One in 12 American’s water supply comes from the Colorado River. Increased mining and drilling for oil, natural gas, and uranium on its shores is threatening that supply.
[Creative Commons photo by Wolfgang Staudt]
The areas along the river are already suffering from drought, and getting at the resources there uses and pollutes the precious remaining water. Research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography estimates that the river could dry up in as little as 13 years.
By Jennifer Lance •
December 26, 2008
Study finds melting ice in the Arctic and longer droughts in the Southwest indicate earlier projections have underestimated the climatic shifts that will take place by the end of the century.
