It’s hot. And dry. Here in Northern Colorado, we can’t escape the reality of this drought that’s touching more and more of the US. Many of this week’s headlines are about the impacts of this drought, and I’ll continue to follow this issue going forward.
Destroying Nature Unleashes Disease – as we encroach into ecosystems across the globe, natural checks on disease are displaced, disregarded or destroyed, leaving humans vulnerable to novel pathogens. Fun disease fact: Robins are considered a “super spreader” of West Nile. Think of that when you’re happy to see the first Robin in spring.
New Route for Keystone Pipeline Still Crosses Fragile Areas – Damage to these aquifers would be devastating for Nebraskan communities, and further damage the dwindling freshwater supply in the American West.
Water Retention Landscapes in Southern Portugal – The goal is to retain all rainwater on the land, replenish the groundwater, encourage springs to reappear, and reduce soil erosion to near zero, while supplying a community of 300 people with healthy organic produce.
Photos of the Drought – These photos focus mainly on the Midwest.
Heat Leaves Ranchers a Stark Option, Sell – TORRINGTON, Wyo. As a relentless drought bakes prairie soil to dust and dries up streams across the country, ranchers struggling to feed their cattle are unloading them by the thousands, a wrenching decision likely to ripple from the Plains to supermarket shelves over the next year.
Drought Covers Widest Area Since 1956 – In its monthly drought report, the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., announced that 55 percent of the country was in a moderate to extreme drought at the end of June. The parched conditions expanded last month in the West, the Great Plains and the Midwest, fueled by the 14th warmest and 10th driest June on record, the report said.
Let us know how drought is impacting you – leave us a comment.
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