China drought limits water for 1 million

Jialing River, China

Don't think for a minute that the above picture couldn't somehow be overlaid with a Vegas skyline. While we don't have a 'river' running down the strip, in a man-made reality, we do.

Las Vegas had over 39 million VISITORS last year. That is a LOT of water to suck out of the Colorado River and pipe across our desert (I won't even mention the numbers for Arizona and California). Technically, we have approx. 2.0 million Las Vegas living in the 'valley.' Many of who think and live like we reside in Minnesota with green grass and all.

Currently, the Colorado River is at a 40-year low. When do we really start getting smart about the water we're sucking up from the CR? Yesterday? Today? Tomorrow? But wait, there is water in the fountain's at the Bellagio! Think they'll share when we run out?

"Colorado River's Low Water Has Far-Reaching Effect"
by Elizabeth Shogren, All Things Considered:
February 21, 2007 ·

"Water levels are so low on the Colorado River that Lake Mead, the huge reservoir created by Hoover Dam, is at a 40-year low. Marinas are having to move long distances to find deep water for their boat slips.

A new report from the National Research Council says it's likely to get worse. The report's authors concluded that climate change likely will further reduce the river's flow and water supplies the river's flow and water supplies."

I ripped out my lawn and replaced it with desert plants last year. My desert Mesquites stayed as did the Palo Verdes. Trees still make sense because they SHADE the ground so it doesn't hold so much heat.

Las Vegas is truly a cement island and we need all the shade we can get. I've lived here over forty years and the difference in temps is astonishing because we no longer have a cooling down period at night in the summer time. Melting, melting, melt............

Simply Recipes' "Fettuccini with Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Sauce"

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
~ Cree Indian Prophecy