The Stream, March 5: Southwest U.S. Municipalities Feel Drought’s Early Effects
A handful of cities north of Denver, Colo., are asking residents to save water, 9News.com reported, anticipating shortages in the coming months from below-average snowpack levels. Albuquerque, New Mexico is on drought watch this year, N.M. Science reported, in the middle of the third-driest water year on record. Water years, as reported by the National Weather Service, begin Oct. 1.
In Texas, lawmakers are trying to get ahead of unexpected drops in groundwater. Last year, StateImpact Texas reported, water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer dropped to their lowest point in 25 years, so one legislator introduced a bill to track well owners’ usage.
Great Lakes Water Levels
While water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron remain far below average, and will stay that way for months, they inched up in February. Wet weather and runoff from freeze-thaw cycles, the Detroit Free Press reported, contributed to the 2-inch February rise.
Read Circle of Blue’s coverage of dropping Great Lakes levels here.
The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.
is a Washington, D.C–based correspondent for Circle of Blue. He graduated from DePauw University as a Media Fellow with a B.A. in Conflict Studies. He co-writes The Stream, a daily summary of global water news.
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