While most people acknowledge that conserving water is good practice, they may not realize how critical it really is. Just look at our current conditions. 2013 started out as a promising water year in California with an extremely wet November and December. However, the precipitation never materialized. Instead, it has turned very dry with California setting a new record (registering 2.2 vs. 17.1 inches of rain) for the driest January-February period in recorded history, dating back 90 years.
At the same time, conditions seem to be worsening along the Colorado River, which is in the midst of a 12-year drought. The Upper Colorado River Basin watershed is expected to yield less water this year, currently 78 percent of average, due to dry conditions. Storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead—the river system’s two main reservoirs—is at 49 percent and 53 percent of average, respectively.
According to the Department of Water Resources, while reservoir storage will meet much of the state’s water demand this year, successive dry years would create drought conditions in some areas.
These persisting dry conditions is only a reminder that California is a drought-prone state where we have to make conservation a way of life. Each of us can do our part to conserve this precious resource, and you can get started with the easy tips in this report. It’s that simple. It’s that important.
