Preview

Community Environmental Issues: Drought In Central Texas

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
791 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Community Environmental Issues: Drought In Central Texas
Community Environment Issue
Student Name
SCI/275
August 11, 2013
Mouna DiBenedetto
Community Environmental Issue
Central Texas, especially Travis County, has been under drought conditions since La Niña, a weather pattern where the surface temperatures are cooler in the Pacific ocean, thus creating drier weather in the southern part of the United States, in 2011 (StateImpact, n.d.). Although this type of weather pattern is typically combated with the arrival of El Niño, which has the opposite effect, it failed to occur in winter of 2012 and central Texas was left with the driest conditions it has experienced since the lowest drought on record in the 1950s (StateImpact, n.d.). Couple this drought with the challenges that central
…show more content…

Water Usage in Central Texas As a result of a three year drought Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, the two main reservoirs for central Texas ' water supply, are at an all time low at just 35% full (Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project, 2009). Storms in central Texas during July 2013 brought 2 to 4 inches of rain to the majority of the Texas hill country and as much as 8 inches in certain spots yet rain fall is significantly below the typical averages (StateImpact, n.d.). Currently, Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan hold 702,157 acre feet of water versus their capacity of 2.01 million acre feet. In 2011 inflows were the lowest in history at about 10% of average, in 2012 inflows were the fifth lowest in history at about 32% of average, and in …show more content…

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, divides water pollution into two categories: point and nonpoint source pollution. Point source pollution comes from a specific place, such as a water treatment plant, while nonpoint source pollution comes from many sources which are not as easy to detect or control (Berg, Hager, & Hassenzahl, 2009). Nonpoint pollutants are the leading cause of water pollution in central Texas and have been known to cause issues with drinking water. Common nonpoint pollutants include fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, oil, grease, and pet or livestock waste. According to The Central Texas Sustainability Project (2009) 40,000 people were served by a public water provider while the provider was in violation of EPA water quality rules. This is a major concern for all citizens, and it is critical that the issue be addressed by reducing pollutants with small changes to the way things are done. Applying the appropriate amount of pesticide, properly disposing of oil and grease, and disposing of pet waste properly are all small steps one can take to reduce the amount of nonpoint pollution that contributes to lower water qualities in central

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Climate change in the southwestern US includes above averagetemperatures, and less rainfalls. These changes are contributors to the water shortage. GeoscientistBrad Udall, director of the University of Colorado Western Water Assessment, estimates the climate change will contributeto 5-20 percent of water loss in the next forty years. While the climate changedoescontribute to the water shortagein the region, it is not the main factor.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The drought has been the worst drought recorded as the biggest drought in history for California that is.If you made it to this point here is more info on this big topic of regulating water for California and not regulating groundwater for California.…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Sci207: Week 3 - Outline

    • 2359 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Water contamination is vastly becoming an alarming issue across the world. We rely on clean water to survive, yet right now we are heading towards a water crisis. Changing climate patterns are threatening lakes and rivers, and key sources that we tap for drinking water are being overdrawn or tainted with pollution (www.nrdc.org). Clean and plentiful water is the cornerstone of prosperous communities. Yet as we enter the 21st century, swelling demand and changing climate patterns are draining rivers and aquifers and pollution is threatening the quality of what remains. NRDC is integrating our expertise in pollution prevention, water efficiency and climate change to sustain America's precious water resources, working to advance smart water efficiency policies to ensure that communities get the water they need while keeping our lakes, rivers, and streams full and healthy (www.nrdc.org).…

    • 2359 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the last few years Texas has been drying up. According to NOAH weather maps show North Central Texas is need of precipitation. The summer of 2011 was so hot and dry wild fires destroyed much of North Central Texas. There as a lack of rain for 52 days straight. Most of the Possum Kingdom Lake area burnted up bad. Homes were lost and a couple of firefighters lost their lives as well. The town of Graham was lock down so no one could get in or out for 2 days because of the fires. The fires were causing dangerous fire hazards while traveling. In a report I found says reservoirs are drying up little by little. The past summers of 2011 and 2012 we severe conditions for drought (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/sjt/drought/WCToutlook.pdf)…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On January 17, 2014 Jerry Brown the governor of California released a statement to be aware of the drought. There have been regulations to cut 20 percent from the average usage of water. The limit for watering lawns is twice a week from a specific time or it could lead to a $48 penalty for over using water. The restrictions have been accounted for to limit the water usage. Also washing your car has limits even though it's within your household. The government is trying to make sure we are aware that water is at its scarce. It is important we follow the regulations to make sure the future is…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Water Resource Plan

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Fresh water pollution is a problem that is widespread and there are no areas that are immune to it. Living in a rural community is a pleasure, but when you actually sit down and look at the facts surrounding all of the river bottom farm lands, manufacturing companies, and rock quarries that have nonpoint surface runoff, you realize that there is more than meets the eye. My plan for sustaining cleaner fresh water in our lakes, streams, and rivers is to start by educating our community.…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Climate change will most likely worsen conditions in Arizona. Future climate change bears snowpack melt, drought, and decrease in precipitation as well as water supply. The state needs to prepare itself and its residents for living and adapting to future climate change. Yet, residents can also act now to prepare themselves for future climate change. When Arizonians do their parts to live ecofriendly lifestyles, they can help lessen the intensity of the effects of climate change. Measures like using less water in the home, landscape, and agriculture will help citizens adjust to future drought. In addition, lessening greenhouse gas emissions would be beneficial due to its contribution in temperature rise. Actions like these will not reverse impending climate change yet it may be able to chip away at the intensity of it. Thus, making citizens aware of future climate change and eco-friendly lifestyles is vital. Awareness about rising temperatures may cause citizens to reconsider their current lifestyles. Unfortunately, Arizona is not alone concerning rising temperatures and their looming effects. As the IPCC reports, the Southwest could have average annual temperature increase by 4.5-9 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century (Bolin et al., 270). This issue affects many people and thus action and awareness needs begin…

    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    But concerns over these toxins are great enough that Congress and the E.P.A. regulate more than 100 pollutants through the Clean Water Act and strictly limit 91 chemicals or contaminants in tap water through the Safe Drinking Water Act.Research shows that an estimated one in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails to meet a federal health benchmark in other ways. Those exposures include carcinogens in the tap water of major American cities and unsafe chemicals in drinking-water wells. Wells, which are not typically regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, are more likely to contain contaminants than municipal water…

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Severe Drought

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Due to 2012 being an extremely hot year for the U.S. it is causing negative effects in the agriculture business. As long as there is a drought people can expect to pay more for the goods that are becoming hard to come by. Mother Nature is fighting against a very productive business for our country and without the power to control weather people have to pay or due…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Water Haevesting

    • 11286 Words
    • 46 Pages

    First Edition by Patricia H. Waterfall, Extension Agent -retired Pima County Cooperative Extension, Low 4 Program Second Edition prepared by Christina Bickelmann, Water Conservation Specialist, Arizona Department of Water Resources, TAMA…

    • 11286 Words
    • 46 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our analysis of drought indices focuses on the five crops with the broadest geographic distribution and highest production in the U.S.: barley, corn, cotton, soybean and winter wheat (Figure 1). Data on crop production for each county are collected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and made available by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov). Only crop statistics under non-irrigated conditions were considered in this study. We created five masks according to the number of crops considered in this analysis in order to delimitate the counties where there are representative lands of cultivations for the different crops. For this purpose, the available crop…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    How to farm in a drought

    • 2346 Words
    • 10 Pages

    According to Andrew Freedman, in his recent article “2012 Drought Will Probably Last Through Winter In The Midwest, Says U.S. Monitor”, drought monitor statistics showed that moderate to exceptional drought covered a new high of 64.16 percent of the lower 48 states as of September 11, 2012 (Freedman, 2012). This drought has been the worst to strike since the Dust Bowl era in the 1930‘s, and the droughts of the 1950‘s. This drought has cost the U.S. economy billions in damage. In 2012, the corn crop was the smallest in six years, and down 13 percent from 2011 (Freedman, 2012). According to the USDA, in August 2012 Illinois was in the D3 level of drought which is considered Extreme drought (Freedman, 2012). A…

    • 2346 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Drought

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Different aspects of drought have been discussed in this paper. Like how drought differs from other natural disasters. Different types of drought viz meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological have been defined. Rainfall pattern in history’s .worst drought in Texas whose effects are persistent to date .Texas La Nina, which is Mexican word for severe drought has effecting the economy of state ,the level s of Peace and making the live of local communities. Drought and it’s effect on Pakistan, Iran, south Asian countries and many other countries of world discussed in the Paper .The importance of drought early warning system and components needed to monitor , Different Techniques for Mitigation of drought like artificial ground water recharge through leaky dam ,water shed management ,water budget ,physical ,Tracer Techniques for ground water recharge have been Discussed. .…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Water scarcity

    • 6516 Words
    • 77 Pages

    often to be the cause of countries or regions experiencing water scarcity, as most countries or regions have…

    • 6516 Words
    • 77 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Urbanization

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Air quality however isn’t the only thing that has given cause for my concern, the quality of water and quantity has caused me to open my mouth in absolute shock. Statewide, 67 percent of monitored water does not meet consumption standards, primarily due to pollution associated with non-satisfactory development practices and urban…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics