Pollution Adding To Drought Woes

A new report claims pollution from coal-burning power plants could be cutting Rocky Mountain snowfalls by as much as 50%. Without water, the success of the West could be its own undoing.

1 minute read

July 22, 2004, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jeffrey Goodman


Most of the Southwest, from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, relies on the Colorado River to keep its golf courses green and its lawns lush. Already under threat from constant expansion, the West's water supply is being attacked by airborne pollution according to a new report from the Desert Research Institute. Tiny particles thrown up by coal power plants form droplets too small to fall as rain or snow, thus depriving the West of much of its long term water supply. Despite the findings, dozens of new 'clean-coal' plants are being built in the West.

Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 in Las Vegas Sun

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