I could grumble and complain about waking to find fresh snow outside this morning because it is the second day of spring. I won’t because we are in a drought.
March 21, 2021 Weather Map
We need the moisture here in northern Utah. Actually, we need it all over the western U.S. and any precipitation is welcomed.
I am not going to complain about any water restrictions we might face this year because of the extreme drought we are in either.
It rained off and on all day yesterday and we needed it too. This much needed moisture is a bit late though. I read on Facebook the other day that the water in the Great Salt Lake is two feet lower now than it was last year during this same time period. That isn’t good news.
The snow pack up in the mountains is not at the level it should be at to fill our reservoirs when the snow melts this year. Each and every time I have gone up into the mountains this past winter I’ve been dismayed by how little snow there was on the ground compared to previous winters and by how shockingly low our reservoirs are. Here in the arid West many of us depend on the winter snow pack to provide our drinking water.
Every snowflake and drop of rain is important in Utah and the western U.S. throughout the year. Our snow pack is the most important and critical source we have for our water needs.
Why does a bird and nature photographer care about all of this? Because I am very much aware that every single living thing needs water and that everything is connected.
As individuals we can do a lot to reduce our water consumption. That is a truth and a fact. It isn’t enough though.
What we need now are state and federal leaders who believe that our climate is in crisis, who believe in the science that shows that it is, and who are willing to act on the best data we have available now.
I don’t believe that Utah has a single qualified leader at this point in time who can effectively do what needs to be done for this drought and our climate crisis.
Mia
I am so very sorry. As you know drought is something my country is all too familiar with. At the moment some of us are having the opposite problem.
I understand and support your position to the fullest, Mia. We all should do what we can to be more informed, be better educated, and be more willing to work at making this a cleaner and healthier planet. In my experience, people often don’t do what they should. But that doesn’t stop me from doing what I can. Everything counts, so don’t get discouraged. Regarding leaders, well, that’s a tough one. I live in one the worst states for electing ignoramuses to lead us. It hasn’t always been that way here, which gives me hope that it won’t always be like this. Leaders are a reflection of the society, the local culture. And that takes me back to a position of knowing that i must do everything i can to effect a change now, and to figure out how to speak with people who couldn’t care less about the environment and the planet. (Sorry, got on the soapbox!)
Nina, I love it that you got on your soapbox. I agree that people don’t often do what they should. I am not stopped from doing what I can either.
As far as leadership here in Utah, I often feel that we are doomed because most of the leadership we do have won’t think about much other than business and dollars.
Figuring out how to speak to people, to educate them, and give them awareness of what we should be and need to be doing for the environment is the hard part.
I’m glad you got some precipitation. We’re still pretty dry out here in SoCal, although not at the same level as you are. We still have some water use restrictions here and over-use is penalized in our bills (which is tough for large families living in a small apartment, but that’s for another rant). Unfortunately, there’s still so much gridlock in DC that I have a feeling that things are going to have to get a lot worse before they start to get better. If a huge chunk of Congress doesn’t trust science enough to wear masks/get vaccinated, then I see little hope for climate science.
It saddens me to know some of our leaders deny that there is severe change coming in terms of climate. The drought in Salt Lake City is a sign. There is so much we can do to help if we only would!