The Official Drought Thread

[Paperback Writer]

I remember listening to the KSL greenhouse show last summer and there was a guy on there saying that English style yards (ie grass) in Utah is not sustainable with current climate conditions and population increases. Makes sense. I could see Xeriscaping becoming a necessity as water prices rise. He also said he doubts Vegas exists in a hundred years. I wish I could remember his name.

It probably won't be just high water costs, water rationing may also become a reality. And rationing is forcing many north Texans to xeriscape. The combination of high growth and drought conditions have put a lot of pressure on the local water supply. It's caused some problems with sports teams that need to practice on grass: soccer, football, baseball/softball. The city won't let them practice on city owned fields because of high maintenance costs so they go to neighborhood parks. They then tear up the turf at the parks because water is rationed with park grass as well. It's not long before everyone is practicing in a dust bowl. My city is in the process of replacing grass on baseball/softball fields with field turf. It's also caused some interesting business developments. Since citizens are forbidden to wash their cars as part of the water rationing program, local car washes are spring up all over the place because they are exempt since they are a business. The local police watch the city-owned soccer fields like a hawk. I was almost ticketed for trespassing while helping my daughter fly a kite when we accidently strayed onto a sacred soccer field.

[byu71]

In my humble opinion, God is not pleased with California.

[USUC]

Yeah, we are in much better shape than California. However, this is our third dry year in a row and our reservoirs are empty. We are still in for a rough summer.

I remember listening to the KSL greenhouse show last summer and there was a guy on there saying that English style yards (ie grass) in Utah is not sustainable with current climate conditions and population increases. Makes sense. I could see Xeriscaping becoming a necessity as water prices rise. He also said he doubts Vegas exists in a hundred years. I wish I could remember his name.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Utah as a state is currently at 75% normal snowpack. While not great, it is nothing like that 12%.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=149&sid=134181

Yeah, we are in much better shape than California. However, this is our third dry year in a row and our reservoirs are empty. We are still in for a rough summer.

[USUC]

And we haven't had too much snow this year.

Utah as a state is currently at 75% normal snowpack. While not great, it is nothing like that 12%.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=149&sid=134181

[USUC]

Yikes. Megadroughts lasting 100 to 200 years? Say goodbye to Southern California is that's the case. The SEC will come to dominate even more.

[SCcoug]

In my communtiy in north Texas, we are only allowed to water lawns twice a month and on assigned days. The two things my Freshman BYU student mentioned he liked about Utah 1) lush lawns 2) Snow. I think he recently took snow off his list.

And we haven't had too much snow this year.

[Paperback Writer]

It's strange to be watering the grass in January. That's usually the one month we get a little rain around here.

In my communtiy in north Texas, we are only allowed to water lawns twice a month and on assigned days. The two things my Freshman BYU student mentioned he liked about Utah 1) lush lawns 2) Snow. I think he recently took snow off his list.

[Joe Public]

It's strange to be watering the grass in January. That's usually the one month we get a little rain around here.

[Goatnapper'96]

Targhee is leading all intermountain western ski resorts in snow this year. I think the irrigated farmers who pull off the Snake River system will be OK. While the San Joaquin Valley burns, RC Vikings and I will proclaim: "LET THEM EAT SPUDS!"

I have seen dust storms in January. I will lose weight on behalf of our local farmers, but nobody ever fasts for folks to pay for their telco services!

[grapevine]

There were some cattle we were to ship to California but do to drought couldn't. People there were selling and feeding cattle off truck when they normally don't have too. Snow pack all day yesterday. In Idaho I think most people that don't use well water can still get a good crop off. Some area's not able to plant crops that require longer water season. So will plant Wheat, Barley and get one or two crops of hay. Happened in past. No beets or potatoes in some places. Some domestic wells dried up too. Drought one year excess moisture next. Part of living in Idaho.

[Clark Addison]

I don't remember any of you westerners fasting for our drought back in 2011, so I am afraid you are on your own.

[pellegrino]

I misread the title and thought it was another beer thread. Carry on.

[Uncle Ted]

Y'all need to be praying for moisture...




We did and now things are looking much better down here… Here is what it use to look like:





2011 was a bitch.

[Moliere]

Tree rings.