Western States Scramble For Water

Western states suffering from prolonged drought get proactive about water problems in the face of increasing demand. Projects include desalinization plants and a 280-mile pipeline to Las Vegas, but the fight over water is escalating.

1 minute read

April 5, 2007, 8:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"A Western drought that began in 1999 has continued after the respite of a couple of wet years that now feel like a cruel tease. But this time people in the driest states are not just scanning the skies and hoping for rescue."

"New scientific evidence suggests that periodic long, severe droughts have become the norm in the Colorado River basin, undermining calculations of how much water the river can be expected to provide and intensifying pressures to find new solutions or sources."

"'What you are hearing about global warming, explosive growth - combine with a real push to set aside extra water for environmental purpose - means you got a perfect situation for a major tug-of-war contest,' said Sid Wilson, the general manager of the Central Arizona Project, which brings Colorado River water to the Phoenix area."

Thanks to Liz Schuh

FULL STORY: An Arid West no Longer Waits for Rain

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 in The New York Times

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