The California drought in 2014 was one of the worst droughts on record. It led to a water crisis, as the state’s water resources were strained. This led to rationing and other measures to conserve water. The drought also had a major impact on agriculture, as farmers struggled to irrigate their crops. The drought finally ended in 2016, but its effects are still being felt today.
Water is a necessary resource for everyone. A scarcity of water in the area, combined with potential shortages of water due to drought, is something that should not be taken lightly. The state of California has been experiencing its third year of historic drought.
This event has been called “the worst water crisis in California’s history” by state officials. The lack of rain and snowfall has left the state reservoirs low, rivers dried up, and groundwater reserves at all-time lows. The agricultural industry has been struggling as farmers are forced to let their crops die due to a lack of irrigation water. This infographic will provide you with some facts and figures about this natural disaster.
This winter, the Sacramento area was desperately in need of water, with a high streak of 52 days without rain (Sacramento Bee: Weather Report). The typical duration for rainfall ranges from late November to mid-April; and the months with the most rainfall are December through February. (Department of Water Resources) As parts of the country become drier, the amount of water availability will certainly decrease.
The drought in California has been a result of three dry winters, with the last one being the most severe. In order to combat the water crisis, Californians have been advised to cut back on their water usage by 25%. This is easier said than done for some people, as many still do not have access to clean water. (CNN)
One of the solutions that has been proposed is desalination, which is the process of removing salt from water. This process is expensive and uses a lot of energy, but it could be a way to provide fresh water for California in the future. (Desalination: A possible solution to California’s water crisis?)
Another proposal is to build more dams and reservoirs. This would provide more water for California, but it would also be expensive and could have negative environmental impacts. (Building more dams won’t solve California’s water crisis)
It is clear that the drought in California is a complex issue with no easy solutions. It will require cooperation from everyone in California to find a way to address the water crisis.
California is experiencing its driest year on record, as confirmed by the Drought Monitor in 2014. The most serious and desperate drought California has ever seen is known as 2014’s drought. There are numerous terms and techniques for dealing with droughts, which distinguish one from the next. A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather that lasts long enough to have an impact on the environment or economy.
A meteorological drought occurs when there is a deficiency in precipitation over an extended period of time. A hydrological drought happens when water reserves, such as surface and groundwater, are below normal levels. An agricultural drought exists when the amount of water available for crop production is below average.
The lack of precipitation has caused California’s reservoirs to fall to dangerously low levels. Lake Oroville, the state’s second largest reservoir, is at 33 percent capacity. The last time it was this low was in 1977 during a severe drought. Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir, is at 36 percent of capacity. Folsom Lake, which provides water for the city of Sacramento, is at 17 percent capacity.
The effects of the 2014 drought are widespread. The lack of water has forced farmers to let their fields lie fallow. As a result, crop production is down and food prices are expected to rise. The lack of water has also led to the death of livestock and wild animals. The thirst for water has caused fights among communities and between different user groups. The drought is also taking a toll on the state’s economy. The agricultural industry, which is a major driver of the state’s economy, has been hit hard by the drought.
The 2014 drought is just one example of how climate change can impact our water resources. As our planet continues to warm, we can expect more extreme weather events like droughts and floods. It is important to be prepared for these events so that we can minimize their impacts.
Water is a precious resource and we must use it wisely. We can all do our part to conserve water by making simple changes in our daily routines. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth, water your plants during the cooler hours of the day, and fix any leaks in your home. These are just a few of the many ways that we can save water.
The 2014 drought is a stark reminder of the importance of water conservation. Let’s all do our part to protect this vital resource.
Droughts that linger for years or decades have a detrimental impact on the environment and cause numerous environmental and social damage, including water shortages, agricultural concerns, health problems, and more (livescience). There are four types of droughts: meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic.
The meteorological drought is defined by below-average conditions in precipitation. A hydrological drought is caused by a decrease in streamflow, lake levels and groundwater. Agricultural droughts are defined as soil moisture stress that can threaten crop production. The fourth category, socioeconomic drought, impacts humans due to water shortages that can arise from the other three categories (Pidwirny).
Droughts happen all over the world, but “the U.S. Drought Monitor said on Aug. 5 that nearly 58% of California was experiencing “severe” drought conditions, with another 29% of the state under “extreme” drought and 13% mired in “exceptional” drought — the worst possible designation” (LiveScience). The state of California is America’s most populous state, with 38 million people, and it also has the largest economy in the United States.
