I. Kenya drought dries up river
This severe drought in the wildlife heart of Africa is getting tough on those wildlife; the accompanying text says:
"... at least 24 elephants had died in the region, reported BBC News. Zebras, buffalo, and carnivores were also dying, said Reuters. The impact was not limited to wildlife: many news reports describe decimated herds of goats, cattle, and other livestock..."
Supposedly the rainy season begins in October. I hope it's a wet one.
Next:
II. Some Canadian rivers at risk of drying up
Lists threats to 10 major rivers in Canada, including the "mighty Mackenzie".
Catch this part: "South Saskatchewan River - is Canada's most threatened river. Hundreds of dams exist throughout its watershed and 70% of the flow is withdrawn for agricultural and urban use. The water scarcity typical of the region's arid climate is expected to intensify under climate change, which experts describe as an emerging water crisis."
and this:
"Saint John River - is the longest river in Atlantic Canada. Hydropower dams on the river have dramatically altered river flows and contributed to the decline of the Atlantic salmon population that is now endangered. Downstream from the dams, river flows can fluctuate by as much as 91% over a 24-hour period; at times flows are reduced to the point that the riverbed almost dries up."
That is frigging RIDICULOUS.
Moving on...
Of course, the Murray-Darling River system drought in Australia has to be mentioned, but this might be a wake-up call:
From September 28, 2009 (this is not a fabricated headline -- this is REAL):
III. Adelaide latest victim of global water shortages
Australia's fifth-largest city could be reliant on bottled water as early as next week as overuse and drought stretch the Murray river to its limit
"Another dry year will deplete our reservoirs and the water in the Murray will become too saline to drink. We are talking about 1.3 million people, who are not far off becoming reliant on bottled water. We are talking a national emergency," said South Australian MP David Winderlich.
As early as next week, water from parts of the river may become too dangerous to drink, which would require the water authority to begin delivering supplies to hospitals, clinics, aged care facilities and local supermarkets in plastic bottles, said Winderlich.
"There's simply too many people pulling water out of the river," said Roger Strother, Coorong council mayor. "We've been saying that one day it would catch up, and this summer is when it is going to happen. It could be next week."
(Remember, winter in the Northern Hemisphere means summer in the Southern Hemisphere.)
Finally, in the Himalayas:
IV. Experts warn glaciers in Indian Kashmir melting
Starts off with:
"Indian Kashmir's glaciers are melting fast because of rising temperatures, threatening the water supply of millions of people in the Himalayan region, a new study by Indian scientists says. The study by Kashmir University's geology and geophysics department blamed the effect on climate change, and said it endangered the livelihoods of two-thirds of the region's nearly 10 million people engaged in agriculture, horticulture, livestock rearing and forestry.
The Kolahoi glacier, the biggest in the Indian portion of divided Kashmir, has shrunk to about 4.44 square miles (11.5 square kilometers) from about five square miles (13 square kilometers) in the past 40 years, the study found. Shakil Romshoo, an associate professor in the department who led the three-year study, described the rate of melting as "alarming." He said Tuesday that Kolahoi had shrunk by 18 percent, and over the same period, other glaciers in the region had shrunk by 16 percent."
But wait, there's more:
IV, Part II. Melting Glaciers Threaten India And Pakistan’s Water Supply
which mentions:
"Other small Kashmir glaciers are also shrinking and the main reason is that the winter temperature in Kashmir is rising," noted the study. The amount of snowfall in Kashmir, called the "Switzerland of the East", has obviously declined.
Regardless of infrequent snowfall, the failure of snow to freeze and compact itself into stronger crystals has aided in a quicker meltdown, experts note. "If you talk about Kashmir and you look at the statistics of climate change, it is melting faster here than any other place in the world," Sally Dotre, a professional from Cambridge University, said to AFP.
"And that's going to have a dramatic effect in Kashmir and Pakistan, because it is already affecting water levels," she added. River levels have decreased drastically by two-thirds in only 40 years."
I do have a question about that last sentence. If the glaciers are melting faster, shouldn't water levels be going UP, albeit temporarily?
Nonetheless, this not a good era, water-wise.
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