Two important US lakes, one of which is a major reservoir, are experiencing historic cyclones in a drought that scientists have Related to climate change..
what’s happening: Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the United States, has dropped 3,554 feet, leaving an important reservoir on the Colorado River with 33% capacity. This is the worst reservoir since it was filled more than half a century ago. US Pioneer Department The data shows.
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The Great Salt Lake, Utah, the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, plunged south by about an inch below the previous record low of 4,191.4 feet above sea level, set in 1963. Announced by US Geological Survey Saturday.
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Wildlife already Suffering from decline, Especially birds and shrimp.
Threat level: Utah’s Secretary-General for Natural Resources, Brian Steed, said in a statement that the state’s lakes have been declining gradually for some time, but “the current drought situation has dropped to this new historic low. We are accelerating. “
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Ryan Roland, data chief at the USGS Utah Water Science Center, wrote that he expects “water levels could drop another foot in the coming months,” based on current trends and historical data. increase.
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The main threat to Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border is: “Water demand in seven US states and two Mexican states that depend on the Colorado River is fast enough to meet the decline in supply. It hasn’t decreased. ” Colorado State University Climate Scientist, Chron Kite News..
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“The difficult lesson we are learning about climate change is that it is not a gradual, slow descent into a new situation,” Udall added.
Big picture: lake Nationwide that is Under strain from Megadrought..
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95% of the western part is experiencing a drought, and more than 28% are facing exceptional drought. Drought monitor in the United States..
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