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Study finds Colorado River Basin’s worst known megadrought was 1,800 years ago

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The ongoing severe drought in the Colorado River Basin has led to the river flowing at 84% of its historic average flow. The new study used tree-ring data and other climate records to identify a drought period unmatched in severity by the current drought or other ancient droughts. Gangopadhyay, S., Woodhouse, C. McCabe, G. Routson, C.

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Bridgestone awarded $35M USDA Climate-Smart Grant to advance guayule natural rubber production

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The US Department of Agriculture has awarded Bridgestone and several partners a $35-million grant to continue its investment in desert shrub guayule ( earlier post ) to advance a climate-smart domestic rubber industry and offer a solution for growers amid the ongoing water crisis in the Southwestern US.

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Heat Pumps Take on Cold Climates

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Twenty homes scattered across Canada and the northern United States are keeping warm this winter using prototypes of the latest iteration in residential heating systems: cold climate heat pumps. To prove it, eight manufacturers are publicly testing their prototypes in the Cold-Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge , hosted by the U.S.

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Satellite study shows drought-stricken Colorado River Basin states depleting their groundwater

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A new satellite study finds more than 75% of the water loss in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin since late 2004 came from underground resources. The extent of groundwater loss may pose a greater threat to the water supply of the western United States than previously thought. This is a lot of water to lose.

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US DOI report highlights impacts of climate change on Western water resources

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Projected median temperature change in °F (of 112 climate projections) over the Western United States, 2070–2099 relative to 1950–1979. The report, which responds to requirements under the SECURE Water Act of 2009, details several increased risks to western United States water resources during the 21 st century. Source: DOI.

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Researchers use IPCC AR5 models to forecast 10% drop in Colorado River flow in next few decades

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The Colorado River Basin encompasses much of the American West, covering parts of seven US states and two states in Mexico. It may not sound like a phenomenally large amount except the water and the river is already over-allocated. Population growth in the Southwest is putting added pressure on regional water resources.

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Study Concludes Colorado River Reservoirs Could Bottom Out from Warming, Water Management Business-as-Usual

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Colorado River Basin including major dams. Inset (a) shows water demand and losses and supply. All reservoirs along the Colorado River might dry up by mid-century as the West warms, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Source: AGU. Click to enlarge. Rajagopalan et al.

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