Regarding the drought and the developments and challenges ahead. Santa Fe NM as we previously stated is in a world of hurt and they are seriously figuring they will actually run out of water this year sometime. I doubt it, we are in El Nino coming up and the rainy season next year will fill it all up again. Over course we are talking Level three water restrictions and four by Sept. Oct. In other words Car Wash Guys, the company I run, maybe delivering water instead of washing cars. We had previously talked to a scientist from Los Alamos earlier this year a few months ago, who had pre warned us exactly how bad it is there. I wonder if that is why the Canyon Dechelley Indians left the area? No water, could this be cyclical over 1000 years ago? Residents and businesses in Las Vegas, NM also, were asked last month to tighten their water taps even further. City officials declared Stage 2 restrictions comparable, Las Vegas NM water utility director said, to Santa Fe's Stage 3 drought restrictions to keep Las Vegas' water storage supply healthy during the coming, even more dry months. The city's water storage is at 85 percent of capacity. Evaporation could cut into that amount without more rainfall. They already saw the best of the spring runoff and some of the numbers are the same or lower than the drought of 2000, which sucked. Although they have been able to capitalize a little bit on our storage, I guess no one told them to put a giant pool cover over the water supply like they do on Strawberry fields in CA to prevent moisture from escaping. You know the scientists should know this about agriculture methods. The Stage 2 restrictions clamp down on outside water use, including a limit for residents and businesses to water only once a week before between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Those with even-numbered addresses may water on Monday; those with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays. This means do not wash your car either or get a fine from the water police and don't think they will not do it either. There will be no car washing at home, and commercial car washes have been restricted to operating only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Yes there are other restrictions such as; No private pools, spas or hot tubs can be filled with city-provided water; the indoor pools operated by the city and New Mexico Highlands University are exempt for now until level three. Water can be served only at the request of the customer at restaurants, big deal more awareness than anything. Ornamental fountains without re-circulating systems must be turned off; re-circulating fountains must be turned off during windy days., good idea I guess, there are quite a few water features in the town of Santa Fe for tourists. One car wash owner we talked to in Las Vegas, NM, said his self-serve car wash business is likely to suffer a loss of 50 percent in business because of the water use restrictions. The water flow is down, and there's nothing in the Gallinas River, it is basically nearly totally dry now. We looked at the river and you could not navagate any more that an inner tube down it, possibly a row boat if you did not mind getting stuck and getting out in knee deep water to push it over the sand bars and rocks once ever 200 yards or so. We see where the needs are for more than washing cars, however we can import the water and wash cars with it and not be restricted, we may do this and you can have anything washed by us. The commercial car wash in Las Vegas, NM called Water Works, which also has a location in Colorado Springs Downtown will also suffer even though it claims it reclaims about 90 percent of the water it uses. These restrictions implemented thus far under level two drought restrictions hope to conserve 500,000 to 800,000 gallons a day from the city's average daily use of 2.3 million gallons. Which is nearly equal to the total flow of the Gallinas River, which had a flow of 2.7 million gallons. The city next door is also battling for their share, and the water wars have begun with the Acequia Water Association. Restrictions seriously. Neighbors call in reports about other neighbors, who get wash their cars in the drive way or run the lawn sprinklers. Comparing Las Vegas' Stage 2 restrictions with Santa Fe's Stage 3 level Las Vegas has it bad but Santa Fe is up Shit's creek with no need for a paddle. Las Vegas' restrictions are tougher with fines, even though Santa Fe's are more serious. Las Vegas city warns violators once, then fine them $125 for the second violation. Wash your car can cost you $125.00 if you do it yourself or $10.00 if the WashGuys do it. If you get a third violation the city turns off the user's taps. Ouch. http://www.water.com http://www.conservewater.com Santa Fe fines begin at $20 for the first violation and could escalate to $200 beyond the fourth violation. Santa Fe's restrictions merely state: "Water service may be suspended for repeat violators." Las Vegas, NM' year-round rules of water conservation also have helped the population there brace for the worst and the worst is coming before it gets any better. Today an interesting article on MSN.com http://weather.nmsu.edu/drought/MUNGP2.htm http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/calendar.html http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/h2o-hottop15.html Well I can tell you that we are challenged more than you think. Droughts are serious in many regions of the United States: Statewide water use restrictions went into effect last month in Georgia. Wheat farmers in Nebraska are predicting drastically reduced yields, and wildfires have scorched thousands of dry acres in Florida, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Farmers are currently suffering the worst drought conditions in GA's states history, they will probably ask for damage assessment reports by county to get federal disaster aid. Is it that bad? Yes it is and it will get worse, unless they get a few hurricane type, tropical depressions moving through the state. The state has already imposed restrictions in the 15-county Atlanta metropolitan area that limit the days and hours when residents can water lawns or wash cars. Similar measures go into effect across the state next week. Again we are The Car Wash Guys and we are fully fucking into this and we will be on top of this issue and we will win it. South Shore in northeastern Kentucky have also been asked to cut back on lawn sprinklers and car washes. In Kentucky, 34 water Districts and Municipal water companies have water conservation measures already in place. Last month Kentucky's bluegrass region slipped into the severe drought category on the Palmer Drought Index, which is released weekly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.noaa.gov/ They are watching this closely http://www.strategic.noaa.gov/ The central and eastern regions of Kentucky are not far behind. They will soon also be on the list. I predict a lot of systems are going to have to go on water conservation. A lot of people are going to have to stop washing cars and watering their lawns and that kind of thing in Kentucky. Farmers fear for crops, here is why we have given the aid we did. The water restrictions in Georgia are causing concern among peanut farmers that state officials will also limit their use of irrigation systems, just as their crops reach a stage where having adequate water is critical. Of course Jimmy Carter a peanut farmer has some clout too you know. Peanuts which are very important need moisture desperately, especially those (crops) that were planted early. In Nebraska, temperatures topping 100 degrees combined with gusty winds and little or no rain have taken a heavy toll on the wheat crop. And if you look a today's weather they are getting pummeled by thunderstorms. As a result, some farmers started two weeks early on their winter wheat harvests, which are predicted to yield only about half what they did last year. The summer wheat if not planet in time will be washed away in some areas. This might be the worst yield in 50 years. Iowa, average precipitation so far this year is only about half what it was this time last year, corn in southern and western Iowa is going to be an issue in plastics, food, and ethanol, in Texas, not even recent heavy rains that caused flooding in some parts of the state were enough to end its drought. The rain will help establish crops during the planting season, but there's not enough moisture to sustain them for long, if it were not for this week's weather they would have had a near disaster on their hands. We have to thank the rain makers and scientists for their due diligence and technology. Too bad about the Arkansas barge that could not see in the bad weather collapsing the bridge, we are really going to have to work on this cloud making experiment a little. Many Rivers and reservoirs run shallow, for instance in mountain states such as Montana are also feeling the pinch, we have a former employee there who is the premiere fly fishing instructor of the Yellow Stone Park area. The river are slow due to the light snowfall over the winter. Montana's snow pack is now all but gone from the mountains and the state needs above-normal rainfall to avoid drought. The forecast holds little promise of improvement. Southwest and central Montana face severe drought while south-central, north-central and southeast areas can expect moderate drought. The northwest is the only area of Montana not in a drought. The biggest fear is going to be summer fires. Streamflows measured by the U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/ http://mn.water.usgs.gov/wrd/stream.html at eight key locations indicate the rivers carried only 79 percent of the normal water in May. Nine federal reservoirs in Montana hold only about 90 percent of the normal water for this time of year and only one is expected to fill this year. End; Part I; The Reality of the Drought Section I of a VI part series May 2002 |
