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| This 1983 photo of
Hoover Dam shows Lake Mead's water level at 1,211 ft. (Click on picture
for larger image.) |
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| This 2003 photo of
Hoover Dam shows Lake Mead's water level at 1,148 ft. (Click on picture
for larger image.) |
Droughts are natural
Droughts are a fact of life in virtually every climate,
so it's important to develop plans to reduce the impact of a drought. Defining
a drought can be difficult because it's not a distinct event like a flood,
fire or hurricane. Instead, a combination of complex factors interact with
the environment causing a reduction in a community's water supply.
Communities can aggravate drought conditions through high
water consumption practices and inefficient water use.
Although no one can predict or control how long a drought
will last, people can reduce their water usage to help stretch the water
supply.
Valley experiencing fifth year of drought
Southern Nevada gets 88 percent of its water supply
from the Colorado River. The average flow of the Colorado River during
2000 to 2002 has been about 10 million acre-feet of water per year, the
lowest three-year average since record keeping began in 1906.
Recent tree-ring studies reveal this drought is the worst
the region has endured since the 1500s.
Lake Mead water levels have dropped more than 70 feet
and are expected to drop further. It will take several years of above-average
snowfall and rainfall in the Rocky Mountains before Lake Mead's water
level rises to normal. To ensure the Las Vegas Valley has enough water
during this drought period and in the future, the Water Authority and
its member agencies developed a Drought
Plan.
For more information on the drought, check out the Water
Authority's web site: snwa.com.
It can provide more information about the drought
and water conservation efforts to help alleviate its effects on our community.
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