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California Drought Consequences

Decent Essays

Consequences of a Drought
There are several environmental issues going on today. One of the most known problems in the state of California is the drought. The state gets most of its rainfall from January to March, but in the past several years it has received little to no rain. Although it is normal to have little precipitation some years, the constant dry climate is no longer normal. The rainfall that we do receive is not enough to save the state. We are now dealing with the consequences of the severe drought. It has become an important issue not only locally, but also nationally.
California agriculture has been affected significantly. According to an article in the Reveal News “Why the California drought affects everyone”, the state may …show more content…

Reservoirs are also drying up. The Sierra Nevada snowpack has significantly melted. Why is the snowpack important you may ask? Well, The Sierra Nevada is important because it contributes to California’s water supply. With the snow melting at a fast rate, and with no rain and snow in the mountain area, there is no fresh water to store. That is where we get most of the fresh water. In the essay “Climate of Denial”, Al Gore writes about heat and drought happening around the world. It is a real environmental issue happening now. He states, “[b]ut in the ‘real world’ the records droughts, fires, floods, and mudslides continue to increase in severity and frequently.” (105) He goes on by saying that these types of events are “of man-made global warming.” (105) I agree with Gore because we are depleting our resources and drying up the soil. Our way of living is contributing to pollution in the atmosphere that traps heat that causes dry weather. California is known for being a multicultural state. Its population has grown greatly over the past hundreds of years. That same population increase has lead to “longer-lasting droughts.” (Gore …show more content…

El Nino is a climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean that is said to bring a wet winter to California. I do hope that it brings some relief to the state’s drought. If the dry weather continues for a longer period of time, it will be difficult for the state to continue sustaining the large population that habitats the state. The wildlife is already being affected, moving to where they can find water. We all rely on the water to survive. I cannot even imagine California turning into a desert like one of those middle-eastern countries that once where green. The state in which I reside has many residents who need to be educated further more about the drought and become more conscious about water usage. Together we can accomplish many things, but the first step is becoming aware that we are part of the problem. If we want change to happen, we have to start by seeing what we are doing in our own home that contributes to the water shortage in the

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