Due to the ongoing drought, increasingly severe water shortages are occurring in the western United States, resulting in drinking water restrictions already in effect. In the vast agricultural areas, irrigation bans are being prepared in the hardest-hit regions.
Widespread restrictions on water use seem inevitable in the coming months, with potentially serious consequences for the western states, especially for farmers who irrigate large tracts of land and crops.
In California, where the extensive almond orchards supply 80 percent of the world’s production, some farmers have already started uprooting trees to save water. Some American farmers are switching to less thirsty crops or leaving land fallow. Agricultural operations in California account for 80% of water usage.
Several states have already pulled out their drought plans, which were drafted in 2019. These plans allocate water savings among the states. Nearly half of the US is currently experiencing drought. A few weeks ago, this figure was still 39%.
And the summer hasn’t even started yet. In July and August, there is little to no precipitation inland. Furthermore, temperatures are then (very) high, so no improvement is expected in the coming months.
In some areas, such as the Colorado River Valley, people are facing the worst drought ever. As a result, emergency use of water supplies in reservoirs is necessary. In the United States, the water level in Lake Mead has dropped to its lowest since the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the US, crucial for the water supply of 25 million people, including those in western cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas. The water in Lake Mead is now more than 42 meters lower than twenty years ago, below the previous low of 2016, as reported by USA Today.
The tributaries of the Colorado River are now so depleted that the level of Lake Mead is predicted to continue dropping until 2023. It currently holds only 36% of its 'normal' capacity.