Page 62 - Basin News Today

Water to 40 million people in the west. this week the federal government announced water cut backs to avoid a catastrophic collapse of the river system. so while the west remains engulfed in a climate change driven mega drought no region of the country has been spared. right now nearly 50% of the continental u.s. is in a drought, half the country. a flash drought in new england is intensifying and expanding and in texas cattle ranchers told cnn conditions are to dire and the economic strain so l...

Get the tighter that water gets. las vegas, years, ago they saw this they come and they spent a billion on the have dollars putting this drop down to the bottom of the martini glass, protecting themselves. but now to fight over rights, over the upper basin states that have a low pack. the lower states arizona nevada to have the storage with the reservoirs. and california, which is the 30th of all. the water managers were hoping the feds would kind of bring a hammer down and their new mandatory c...

Problems associated with climate change. and now, there was a deadline that was not met, set by the federal government for the seven basin states, those 40 million people that depend on that water. and so the federal government stepped in, theyre calling this now a tier 2 shortage, which means water reductions will come to certain states in those areas surrounding the river. that includes arizona, it includes mexico. and it includes nevada. and so theyre going to see significant cuts over the ne...

Thats a supposed mark twain quote, a western slogan since the first settlers. but now the worst drought in 100 years, as water managers in seven states, 30 tribal nations, and mexico, fighting over every precious drop. >> but to date, the states collectively have not identified and adopted specific actions of sufficient magnitude that would stabilize the system >> that was the commissioner in charge of dams and reservoirs, admitting that upper and lower basin states have failed to agree on ways ...

Historic, nearly 730 billion dollars to fight climate change. -- some drug prices, perhaps medicare, out of pocket cost cap that $2,000. it will extend cities for another three years. it also poses a minimum 15% corporate tax on the orders of u.s. corporations. former president barack obama calling the legislation a bfd, a reference to joe bidens famous hot mic moment back in 2010. if you dont remember it, here it is. >> this is a big -- deal. >> the bfd that biden was affirming tonight was the ...

The Colorado River supplies water to tens of million of people, but restrictions will reduce many western states' supply.

Actions of sufficient magnitude that would stabilize the system. >> reporter: that was the commissioner in charge of dams and reservoirs admitting that upper and lower basin states have failed to agree on ways to cut their water use by up to 25%. >> i think ultimately the states are going to realize theyre playing russian roulette. and theyre going to have to come to their senses. >> reporter: for almost 30 years, pat mull roy was in charge of southern nevadas water. and led an aggressive conser...

Sufficient magnitude that would stabilize the system. >> reporter: that was the commissioner in charge of dams and reservoirs admitting upper and lower basin states have failed to agree on ways to cut their water use by up to 25%. >> i think ultimately the states are going to realize their playing playing russian roulette and have to come to their senses. >> reporter: for 30 years pat was in charge of southern nevadas water and led an aggressive conservation campaign to tear up lawns, reuse wast...

>> we have the very real possibility this coming year if we have another lousy winter, all things being equal, that we will dry this lake down to elevation 1,000. that is 100 feet above dead pool and youre at the bottom of the martini glass. it doesnt take much to tip that over and get to the point where nothing can go down stream and if you dont take it seriously now, if you think youre going to avoid this, do a rain dance, go pray, do whatever, that we have a great winter youre ins insane. >> ...

Bill weir is at lake mead. bill, lake mead has become so synonymous with this water crisis, how bad is it getting? >> it was 95% 20 years ago, now its down to a quarter. its low enough that theyre going to again restrict water flows to the lower basin states. they say its low enough to trigger restrictions. that means it will be nevada, arizona and new mexico that will have to cut back the most. because i didnt get into a tier 2b in which california would have faced their first cuts. the pact wa...