How many realize how bad the drought is in the South West? - GoFuckYourself.com

crockett · 05-15-2014, 09:14 AM

I've traveled around Texas a little over a month while on my extended vacation from normal life. I've now finally moved on to New Mexico but one thing that has been a real eye opener is how bad the drought in the south west actually is.

If you look on Google maps or if you are lucky enough to find a river on Apple maps it's a pretty good chance that the river is not there anymore, but only a dried up rocky or even grass filled basin.

I like to kayak so I make it a point to go check out various rivers and lakes and many are simply not there. Only dried up places that used to contain water. Yesterday I drove through Big Spring, Tx and stopped at the town's name sake, "big spring" it was just a pool of old stagnate water. As I drove toward New Mexico on 87 then finally 180 there were miles and miles of farm land but every river and lake along the way was completely dry.

A few random pics from my cell phone, to show what it's like..

This was Buchanan Lake just north west of Austin from 2 days ago as I left Austin for the last time. I'm driving in the lake bed and that is a public boat ramp, obviously built to lauch boats but it hasn't in quite some time..

Another view this time a bit of lake side property, don't leave the boats un-attended folks.

Excuse my finger, but this is a dam on a section of the Colorado River at Marble Falls.. Not much water moving over it..

Near the Max Starcke Dam on the Colorado River, a little section of Flatrock creek, again near Marble Falls, TX. I'm standing at the top of the waterfall.

water should at the very least be trickling over these rocks. Not much of a waterfall to be found now, just stagnate water.

Up river view of Flatrock creek

A section of bull creek in Austin, While it has water it's not much and this was one of the deeper sections. a bit more drought and this will be gone as well.

Canyon Lake, not far from San Marcos, but every single boat ramp on the lake is dried up. When I say dried up I mean the water line is usually hundreds of feet away from the boat ramps. Looking at the picture to give you an idea, normal water level would be near the treeline. It was about a 10ft drop to the water from where I stood and the water should of been almost if not at my level.

Keep in mind, that most of these lakes are actually dammed up parts of the Colorado river meaning they have water flowing through them but not enough to keep the lakes at their usual heights.

I just wanted to post this, because as someone from the East Coast where the water is plentiful, we don't see much of this. I personally do not see how farming operations in the south west will survive if this continues. There will be some serious issues if this drought continues on.

One other thing I'd like to mention, is the lakes and rivers that do have water often are filled with allege. The allege often kills fish and other natural habitats for wild life which create further problems.

The allege is largely due to fertilizers from both farming and that used on home lawns. On the east coast this is also a serious problem. People if you like your drinking water, stop wasting water and stop fertilizing your lawns. This isn't why I posted these pictures, but it's just something that should be said.

_Richard_ · 05-15-2014, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

I've traveled around Texas a little over a month while on my extended vacation from normal life. I've now finally moved on to New Mexico but one thing that has been a real eye opener is how bad the drought in the south west actually is.

If you look on Google maps or if you are lucky enough to find a river on Apple maps it's a pretty good chance that the river is not there anymore, but only a dried up rocky or even grass filled basin.

I like to kayak so I make it a point to go check out various rivers and lakes and many are simply not there. Only dried up places that used to contain water. Yesterday I drove through Big Spring, Tx and stopped at the town's name sake, "big spring" it was just a pool of old stagnate water. As I drove toward New Mexico on 87 then finally 180 there were miles and miles of farm land but every river and lake along the way was completely dry.

A few random pics from my cell phone, to show what it's like..

This was Buchanan Lake just north west of Austin from 2 days ago as I left Austin for the last time. I'm driving in the lake bed and that is a public boat ramp, obviously built to lauch boats but it hasn't in quite some time..

wow. not sure how regular this happens..

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 09:20 AM

i'm living in one just as bad

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 09:28 AM

i think this is a man made drought.

what do you expect when the gov. drains the ground water? sinkholes! low level lakes dry rivers! population increase more water being drank, lawns, pools, etc...

crockett · 05-15-2014, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

i think this is a man made drought.

what do you expect when the gov. drains the ground water? sinkholes! low level lakes dry rivers! population increase more water being drank, lawns, pools, etc...

Well this is the worst drought in 500 years is what they claim, but 500 years ago there were not so many people nor so much farm land. I just do not see where the water is going to come from to service the population. If this goes on say another 10 years if it's a long one, they won't have water. It's obvious by the plant growth in the lake beds that many of these places have been like this for several years already.

EonBlue · 05-15-2014, 09:40 AM

It's all part of a natural cycle and it's nothing that hasn't been seen before.

http://wwwpaztcn.wr.usgs.gov/rsch_hi...es/200404.html

We are currently in the bottom right configuration: -PDO +AMO

Rochard · 05-15-2014, 09:41 AM

I live in Northern California, and this is becoming a huge problem for us. Too many people sucking down too much water. It's getting hotter every year; This will be a huge problem for us.

Simple solution though.... The oceans are going to rise, so build massive desalination plants on the coast, suck out as much water as we can, and enjoy.

_Richard_ · 05-15-2014, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EonBlue

It's all part of a natural cycle and it's nothing that hasn't been seen before.

http://wwwpaztcn.wr.usgs.gov/rsch_hi...es/200404.html

We are currently in the bottom right configuration: -PDO +AMO

and almost seems like it's just getting started?

L-Pink · 05-15-2014, 09:44 AM

It's raining like hell at my house right now.

Lot of stories about farmers giving up on the news.

.

EonBlue · 05-15-2014, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Richard_

and almost seems like it's just getting started?

Maybe. But there are some forecasts of an El Nino later this year which will bring moisture back to the Southwest for a little while at least.

Barry-xlovecam · 05-15-2014, 09:55 AM

This was a year with record snowfall here and right now, I have standing water. We have had almost 4" of rain since May 12th -- want some water? I would be happy to ship some to the west FOB destination ;0)

It's cyclical. We have had a low-level drought here for a few years past.

Last winter was the second coldest on record too and it's only 50°F here today 10°+ below the average daily high -- screwy weather (as usual).

PR_Glen · 05-15-2014, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

i think this is a man made drought.

what do you expect when the gov. drains the ground water? sinkholes! low level lakes dry rivers! population increase more water being drank, lawns, pools, etc...

man made drought? You are fucking hilarious...

Mark-G · 05-15-2014, 10:42 AM

Yeah, it's just cost TOO MUCH money to produce drinking water out of seawater... Otherwise its been done long time ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard

I live in Northern California, and this is becoming a huge problem for us. Too many people sucking down too much water. It's getting hotter every year; This will be a huge problem for us.

Simple solution though.... The oceans are going to rise, so build massive desalination plants on the coast, suck out as much water as we can, and enjoy.

L-Pink · 05-15-2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

man made drought? You are fucking hilarious...

About parts of California ??? http://naturalresources.house.gov/is.../?IssueID=5921

.

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard

I live in Northern California, and this is becoming a huge problem for us. Too many people sucking down too much water. It's getting hotter every year; This will be a huge problem for us.

Simple solution though.... The oceans are going to rise, so build massive desalination plants on the coast, suck out as much water as we can, and enjoy.

how will they know where the coastline will be and stay with oceans rising?

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Pink

About parts of California ??? http://naturalresources.house.gov/is.../?IssueID=5921

.

In May 2007, a Federal District Court Judge ruled that increased amounts of water had to be re-allocated towards protecting the Delta smelt ? a three-inch fish on the Endangered Species List.

Because of this ruling, in 2009 and 2010 more than 300 billion gallons (or 1 million acre-feet) of water were diverted away from farmers in the Central Valley and into the San Francisco Bay ? eventually going out into the Pacific Ocean.

Captain Kawaii · 05-15-2014, 10:48 AM

Mother nature fucking over whitey!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/us...-era.html?_r=0

L-Pink · 05-15-2014, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

how will they know where the coastline will be and stay with oceans rising?

I'm looking at 1,000 acres for sale in Yuma, Arizona. I'm betting it will be waterfront someday soon.

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 10:52 AM

The Pelosi-led Congress did nothing to reverse the plight of the San Joaquin Valley and even obstructed repeated Republican actions to reverse the situation. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act reflects Republican promises to avoid another man-made drought.

Rochard · 05-15-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark-G

Yeah, it's just cost TOO MUCH money to produce drinking water out of seawater... Otherwise its been done long time ago.

That's the only reason we aren't doing it now.... But we will in the future. We'll have to.

deltav · 05-15-2014, 11:03 AM

As others have implied, the drought is "man made" - regardless of one's opinions on global warming - because we have unsustainably large populations in arid areas of the SW and SoCal that have to drain water from other sources to meet their needs. And these places are just getting bigger. Phoenix, LA, keep just guzzling water until the fucking Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. The list goes on. We simply turn a blind eye to the ways we pillage our surroundings and mortgage the future for immediate convenience, it's pretty fucked up.

There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb.

crockett · 05-15-2014, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EonBlue

Maybe. But there are some forecasts of an El Nino later this year which will bring moisture back to the Southwest for a little while at least.

Hopefully, because they certainly need it. There were storms a few days ago with flash flood warnings near Austin but I think that was wishful thinking.

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

Hopefully, because they certainly need it. There were storms a few days ago with flash flood warnings near Austin but I think that was wishful thinking.

Have you been swimming at Barton Springs recently? I lifeguarded there a long time ago, I wonder what the water level is there these days.

L-Pink · 05-15-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb.

SuckOnThis · 05-15-2014, 11:38 AM

Just wait until the Colorado river dries up, which is already happening. It doesn't even reach the ocean anymore. Over 30 million people depend on that water.

crockett · 05-15-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

Have you been swimming at Barton Springs recently? I lifeguarded there a long time ago, I wonder what the water level is there these days.

Yea, I went to Barton Springs a few times and and spent many idle days in Zilker park due to the free wifi. I would also go to Red Bud Island and sneek a swim with the dogs.. (yea it was against the rules for people to swim there but ok for dogs... I decided fuck what the signs say..The rangers tried to run me off one day though but I just played dumb tourist lol)

I also went to Roy G Guerrero park quite often if I wanted a bit of nature in the middle of the city.

That part of the Colorado doesn't seem to be affected much. To me Barton springs seems to be at what I'd assume was normal levels as was town lake areas, but that is all of course controlled by the dams. Travis lake however was down quite a lot and many of boat ramps were closed.

L-Pink · 05-15-2014, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

I would also go to Red Bud Island and sneek a swim with the dogs.. (yea it was against the rules for people to swim there but ok for dogs... I decided fuck what the signs say..The rangers tried to run me off one day though but I just played dumb tourist lol)

What kind of dogs are you traveling with?

crockett · 05-15-2014, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

Just wait until the Colorado river dries up, which is already happening. It doesn't even reach the ocean anymore. Over 30 million people depend on that water.

Yea, while I do understand there is lack of rain I see this as more of a man made issue. Example, all these lakes around Austin didn't exist 500 years ago. The Army Core of Engineers dammed off parts of the rivers and make them lakes then control the flow of water.

This has allowed millions of people the ability to live in what would normally be inhospitable areas. We changed the way the rivers flowed and take too much water. It's fine when there is enough snow, rain & ice pack to keep in all going, but in times of drought like right now, it's going to cause serious problems.

AsianDivaGirlsWebDude · 05-15-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

As others have implied, the drought is "man made" - regardless of one's opinions on global warming - because we have unsustainably large populations in arid areas of the SW and SoCal that have to drain water from other sources to meet their needs. And these places are just getting bigger.

Phoenix, LA, keep just guzzling water until the fucking Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. The list goes on. We simply turn a blind eye to the ways we pillage our surroundings and mortgage the future for immediate convenience, it's pretty fucked up.

There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb.

QFT!

I'm prepared...

ADG

crockett · 05-15-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Pink

What kind of dogs are you traveling with?

None, I just meant I as a human swam with the dogs..

Not literately of course, but most of the River areas around Austin it's against the law to actually swim in the river. Places like Red Bud island there are signs all over that say no swimming but dogs are aloud to swim.

It's not due to pollution or anything like that, my guess is the fact that there is 3 million people living in the area if you could just swim anywhere it would destroy the river. People still do it of course as did I, but I suspect if everyone did the river would take a toll.

You can still kayak, canoe, paddle board and so on, but they try to limit the areas you can actually swim.

deltav · 05-15-2014, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

This has allowed millions of people the ability to live in what would normally be inhospitable areas. We changed the way the rivers flowed and take too much water. It's fine when there is enough snow, rain & ice pack to keep in all going, but in times of drought like right now, it's going to cause serious problems.

The problem is, it's not "fine" even when there are normal levels of snowpack & rain. Nobody starting saying when Phoenix was at 500k population or whatever, "Alright guys, that's all we can sustainably support here water-wise, the city's off limits for new residents". Now it's 9 times that give or take, and still growing. Ditto for other arid parts of the SW and Socal. People just keep filling the places up beyond capacity to support them and there's going to be a huge water crisis in that region in coming generations, one that makes this drought look like a pleasant spring rain.

crockett · 05-15-2014, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

QFT!

I'm prepared...

ADG

Haha that's awesome, I'd love to sell those to preppers.

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

man made drought? You are fucking hilarious...

Groundwater depletion read that.where do you think the lake water is going? to the moon??

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

QFT!

I'm prepared...

ADG

got dammit you always have funny pics!

crockett · 05-15-2014, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

The problem is, it's not "fine" even when there are normal levels of snowpack & rain. Nobody starting saying when Phoenix was at 500k population or whatever, "Alright guys, that's all we can sustainably support here water-wise, the city's off limits for new residents". Now it's 9 times that give or take, and still growing. Ditto for other arid parts of the SW and Socal. People just keep filling the places up beyond capacity to support them and there's going to be a huge water crisis in that region in coming generations, one that makes this drought look like a pleasant spring rain.

Yea you are probably right.. It's just far too many people with far too little natural water sources. When I see all the farm land out here that requires irrigation (meaning ALL of it), it's pretty fucking clear that these people do not think about where the water comes from, but only how much can I grow.

ajrocks · 05-15-2014, 12:24 PM

I was watching the news documentary show Vice last week and they had a great piece about the drought in California and Texas in particular. The state of California is investing in Green energy and other ways to reduce pollution. Over in Texas 60% of people don't believe in global warming and they are actually praying to god for rain and truly believe he will bring them rain if they repent.

Now I know how both Bushes got elected. God fearing folk have a lot more to worry about then god. They are going to be running out of holy water soon.

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

The problem is, it's not "fine" even when there are normal levels of snowpack & rain. Nobody starting saying when Phoenix was at 500k population or whatever, "Alright guys, that's all we can sustainably support here water-wise, the city's off limits for new residents". Now it's 9 times that give or take, and still growing. Ditto for other arid parts of the SW and Socal. People just keep filling the places up beyond capacity to support them and there's going to be a huge water crisis in that region in coming generations, one that makes this drought look like a pleasant spring rain.

phx is a nightmare that is coming true. don't forget all the fires that obliterated the phoenix forest, which was fundamental to the ecosystem there.

it's a natural weather shitstorm of a location with zero local resources and a huge sucker of resources from elsewhere, like the colorado.

all for phoenix? one of the shittiest places to live in the US.

_Richard_ · 05-15-2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

As others have implied, the drought is "man made" - regardless of one's opinions on global warming - because we have unsustainably large populations in arid areas of the SW and SoCal that have to drain water from other sources to meet their needs. And these places are just getting bigger. Phoenix, LA, keep just guzzling water until the fucking Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. The list goes on. We simply turn a blind eye to the ways we pillage our surroundings and mortgage the future for immediate convenience, it's pretty fucked up.

There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb.

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

phx is a nightmare that is coming true. don't forget all the fires that obliterated the phoenix forest, which was fundamental to the ecosystem there.

it's a natural weather shitstorm of a location with zero local resources and a huge sucker of resources from elsewhere, like the colorado.

all for phoenix? one of the shittiest places to live in the US.

wtf?? are you american?? forest in Phoenix,Az? you high???

up north maybe flagstaff sedona

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

wtf?? are you american?? forest in Phoenix,Az? you high???

up north maybe flagstaff sedona

apache forest

tonto forest

prescott forest

forests are within ~25 miles of phx.

when I stated phoenix forests, I mean forests that border phx and contribute to the ecosystem there.

yes, I'm American.

no, I am not high.

AsianDivaGirlsWebDude · 05-15-2014, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

got dammit you always have funny pics!

Practice...

ADG

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

wtf?? are you american?? forest in Phoenix,Az? you high???

up north maybe flagstaff sedona

view this map and you can get a better idea of how the forest borders phx and even continues south past phx. That greenery had a profound impact on the region and the massive wildfires there over the last decade (2 of the biggest in the U.S. even) have wiped out a lot of forest there.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fo...e57cfcbfd 37f

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

wtf?? are you american?? forest in Phoenix,Az? you high???

up north maybe flagstaff sedona

check this shit out!

::::::::

In 2002, the Rodeo-Chediski fire consumed 469,000 acres of pine and mixed conifer on the Mogollon Rim, not far from Phoenix. It was an ecological holocaust that no one expected to see surpassed. Only nine years later, in 2011, the Wallow fire picked up the torch, so to speak, and burned across the Rim all the way to the New Mexico border and beyond, topping out at 538,000 charred acres.

Now, nobody thinks such fires are one-off flukes. Diligent modeling of forest response to rising temperatures and increased moisture stress suggests, in fact, that these two fires were harbingers of worse to come. By mid-century, according to a paper by an A-team of Southwestern forest ecologists, the ?normal? stress on trees will equal that of the worst megadroughts in the region?s distant paleo-history, when most of the trees in the area simply died.

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

apache forest

tonto forest

prescott forest

forests are within ~25 miles of phx.

when I stated phoenix forests, I mean forests that border phx and contribute to the ecosystem there.

yes, I'm American.

no, I am not high.

oh ok

you said phoenix forest maybe another city.

Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Illinois
Phoenix, Louisiana
Phoenix, Maryland
Phoenix, Michigan
Phoenix, New York
Phoenix, Oregon

phoenix oregon i bet is forest

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

view this map and you can get a better idea of how the forest borders phx and even continues south past phx. That greenery had a profound impact on the region and the massive wildfires there over the last decade (2 of the biggest in the U.S. even) have wiped out a lot of forest there.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fo...e57cfcbfd 37f

i dont need a map dogg

baddog · 05-15-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

i think this is a man made drought.

what do you expect when the gov. drains the ground water? sinkholes! low level lakes dry rivers! population increase more water being drank, lawns, pools, etc...

oh man . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard

Simple solution though.... The oceans are going to rise, so build massive desalination plants on the coast, suck out as much water as we can, and enjoy.

Simple solution? No, simple mind. Try doing some research.

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

oh man . . .

Simple solution? No, simple mind. Try doing some research.

your state baddog

http://naturalresources.house.gov/is.../?IssueID=5921

you probably think aliens took it

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

oh ok

you said phoenix forest maybe another city.

Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Illinois
Phoenix, Louisiana
Phoenix, Maryland
Phoenix, Michigan
Phoenix, New York
Phoenix, Oregon

phoenix oregon i bet is forest

i dont need a map dogg

I know this is gfy but why on earth are you trying to gotcha me over this? I mean if I ever had a reason to go into my gonna rub your nose in your post mode, this would be one.

I'm refraining from that because I'm trying to keep to the topic of drought and the issues resulting.

:2 fucking cents:

Paul · 05-15-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltav

As others have implied, the drought is "man made" - regardless of one's opinions on global warming - because we have unsustainably large populations in arid areas of the SW and SoCal that have to drain water from other sources to meet their needs. And these places are just getting bigger. Phoenix, LA, keep just guzzling water until the fucking Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. The list goes on. We simply turn a blind eye to the ways we pillage our surroundings and mortgage the future for immediate convenience, it's pretty fucked up.

There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb.

Well said!

It's a global problem buddy, this is happening all over the world. Huge areas of the worlds water reserves are drying up. It's one of these major world issues that no one is really talking about because there isn't a solution. The problem will continue to get worse as the worlds population continues to increase.

That's the elephant in the room...

Only a matter of time before we start having wars over water, we're headed towards the perfect storm. The Middle East is fucked!

Water is life

brassmonkey · 05-15-2014, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

I know this is gfy but why on earth are you trying to gotcha me over this? I mean if I ever had a reason to go into my gonna rub your nose in your post mode, this would be one.

I'm refraining from that because I'm trying to keep to the topic of drought and the issues resulting.

:2 fucking cents:

man never forget your fucking rambles

dyna mo · 05-15-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

man never forget your fucking rambles

cool, don't forget the one just above, the one about the forest fires on the rim outside phx.

05-15-2014, 09:14 AM	#1
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	How many realize how bad the drought is in the South West? I've traveled around Texas a little over a month while on my extended vacation from normal life. I've now finally moved on to New Mexico but one thing that has been a real eye opener is how bad the drought in the south west actually is. If you look on Google maps or if you are lucky enough to find a river on Apple maps it's a pretty good chance that the river is not there anymore, but only a dried up rocky or even grass filled basin. I like to kayak so I make it a point to go check out various rivers and lakes and many are simply not there. Only dried up places that used to contain water. Yesterday I drove through Big Spring, Tx and stopped at the town's name sake, "big spring" it was just a pool of old stagnate water. As I drove toward New Mexico on 87 then finally 180 there were miles and miles of farm land but every river and lake along the way was completely dry. A few random pics from my cell phone, to show what it's like.. This was Buchanan Lake just north west of Austin from 2 days ago as I left Austin for the last time. I'm driving in the lake bed and that is a public boat ramp, obviously built to lauch boats but it hasn't in quite some time.. Another view this time a bit of lake side property, don't leave the boats un-attended folks. Excuse my finger, but this is a dam on a section of the Colorado River at Marble Falls.. Not much water moving over it.. Near the Max Starcke Dam on the Colorado River, a little section of Flatrock creek, again near Marble Falls, TX. I'm standing at the top of the waterfall. water should at the very least be trickling over these rocks. Not much of a waterfall to be found now, just stagnate water. Up river view of Flatrock creek A section of bull creek in Austin, While it has water it's not much and this was one of the deeper sections. a bit more drought and this will be gone as well. Canyon Lake, not far from San Marcos, but every single boat ramp on the lake is dried up. When I say dried up I mean the water line is usually hundreds of feet away from the boat ramps. Looking at the picture to give you an idea, normal water level would be near the treeline. It was about a 10ft drop to the water from where I stood and the water should of been almost if not at my level. Keep in mind, that most of these lakes are actually dammed up parts of the Colorado river meaning they have water flowing through them but not enough to keep the lakes at their usual heights. I just wanted to post this, because as someone from the East Coast where the water is plentiful, we don't see much of this. I personally do not see how farming operations in the south west will survive if this continues. There will be some serious issues if this drought continues on. One other thing I'd like to mention, is the lakes and rivers that do have water often are filled with allege. The allege often kills fish and other natural habitats for wild life which create further problems. The allege is largely due to fertilizers from both farming and that used on home lawns. On the east coast this is also a serious problem. People if you like your drinking water, stop wasting water and stop fertilizing your lawns. This isn't why I posted these pictures, but it's just something that should be said. Last edited by crockett; 05-15-2014 at 09:27 AM..

05-15-2014, 09:28 AM	#4
brassmonkey Pay It Forward Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Yo Mama House Posts: 77,292	i think this is a man made drought. what do you expect when the gov. drains the ground water? sinkholes! low level lakes dry rivers! population increase more water being drank, lawns, pools, etc... __________________ TRUMP 2025 KEKAW!!! - The Laken Riley Act Is Law! DACA ENDED - SUPPORT AZ HCR 2060 52R - email: brassballz-at-techie.com

05-15-2014, 09:41 AM	#7
Rochard Jägermeister Test Pilot Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NORCAL Posts: 74,563	I live in Northern California, and this is becoming a huge problem for us. Too many people sucking down too much water. It's getting hotter every year; This will be a huge problem for us. Simple solution though.... The oceans are going to rise, so build massive desalination plants on the coast, suck out as much water as we can, and enjoy. __________________ “The choice is no longer between right or left. The choice is between normal and crazy.” - Sarah Huckabee Sanders YNOT MAIL \| THE BEST ADULT MAILING SOLUTION

05-15-2014, 09:44 AM	#9
L-Pink working on my tan Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida/Kentucky Posts: 39,151	It's raining like hell at my house right now. Lot of stories about farmers giving up on the news. . Last edited by L-Pink; 05-15-2014 at 09:46 AM..

05-15-2014, 09:55 AM	#11
Barry-xlovecam It's 42 Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Global Posts: 18,083	This was a year with record snowfall here and right now, I have standing water. We have had almost 4" of rain since May 12th -- want some water? I would be happy to ship some to the west FOB destination ;0) It's cyclical. We have had a low-level drought here for a few years past. Last winter was the second coldest on record too and it's only 50°F here today 10°+ below the average daily high -- screwy weather (as usual).

05-15-2014, 09:20 AM	#3
dyna mo The People's Post Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: invisible 7-11 Posts: 66,268	i'm living in one just as bad

05-15-2014, 09:40 AM	#6
EonBlue Apocalypse Industry Role: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Limbo Posts: 3,043	It's all part of a natural cycle and it's nothing that hasn't been seen before. http://wwwpaztcn.wr.usgs.gov/rsch_hi...es/200404.html We are currently in the bottom right configuration: -PDO +AMO

05-15-2014, 10:48 AM	#17
Captain Kawaii So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6,748	Mother nature fucking over whitey! http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/us...-era.html?_r=0

05-15-2014, 10:52 AM	#19
dyna mo The People's Post Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: invisible 7-11 Posts: 66,268	The Pelosi-led Congress did nothing to reverse the plight of the San Joaquin Valley and even obstructed repeated Republican actions to reverse the situation. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act reflects Republican promises to avoid another man-made drought.

05-15-2014, 11:03 AM	#21
deltav Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,243	As others have implied, the drought is "man made" - regardless of one's opinions on global warming - because we have unsustainably large populations in arid areas of the SW and SoCal that have to drain water from other sources to meet their needs. And these places are just getting bigger. Phoenix, LA, keep just guzzling water until the fucking Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. The list goes on. We simply turn a blind eye to the ways we pillage our surroundings and mortgage the future for immediate convenience, it's pretty fucked up. There's simply no reason Phoenix should have 4 million plus inhabitants, to say nothing of the fucking green golf courses and lawns. People are dumb. __________________ ********* DeltaofVenus.com - Vintage Erotica from the 1800s through 1979 Last edited by deltav; 05-15-2014 at 11:04 AM..

05-15-2014, 11:38 AM	#25
SuckOnThis So Fucking Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In my head Posts: 6,844	Just wait until the Colorado river dries up, which is already happening. It doesn't even reach the ocean anymore. Over 30 million people depend on that water.

05-15-2014, 12:24 PM	#36
ajrocks Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On Uranus Posts: 4,526	I was watching the news documentary show Vice last week and they had a great piece about the drought in California and Texas in particular. The state of California is investing in Green energy and other ways to reduce pollution. Over in Texas 60% of people don't believe in global warming and they are actually praying to god for rain and truly believe he will bring them rain if they repent. Now I know how both Bushes got elected. God fearing folk have a lot more to worry about then god. They are going to be running out of holy water soon. __________________ SEO Strategy - Digital Strategy - Cannabis Lead Generation Skype aj.durden1