40 Million People Rely on the Colorado River, and Now It's Drying Up

The first-ever official shortage on the Colorado River is expected to be announced on Monday, Aug. 16. A shortage will mean mandatory cutbacks to some users in the Southwest and offers a stark warning of what's to come if conditions don't improve.
Subscribe to VICE News here: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News
Check out VICE News for more: vicenews.com
Follow VICE News here:
Facebook: / vicenews
Twitter: / vicenews
Tumblr: / vicenews
Instagram: / vicenews
More videos from the VICE network: www. vicevideo
#VICENews #News

[@GTM9164]

farmers don't have water but I bet all those AZ golf course still do...

[@hmu958]

Pay to play. Food is so undervalued that farmers can't pay for water rights, use, or trucking that golf courses can.

[@MatthewBaran]

Definitely stop the stupid golf courses. I like to golf but they're parasitically leeching water

[@nyx7842]

This is gonna cause violence. When you have rich golfers take up most water while you are left to rot, doesn't seem like a recipe for success. Doesn't matter what your political leanings, it'll still piss you off.

[@Eidelmania]

Stupid meme. Golf courses use recycled toilet water.

[@MatthewBaran]

@@nyx7842 eat the rich.

[@JupiterRadio]

I'm from the Navajo reservation, a community 2 miles south of Page, AZ. Lake Powell has been low for a long time and it's only getting worse. But a lot of people from Page or other "civilized" communities around here make fun of us Navajo for not having grass or pools. This is a desert. Water needs to be reserved for crops, plumbing, and drinking water. Not golf courses, pools, and "lawn of the month".

[@frenchonion4595]

The white man has always been materialistic

[@christopherd.337]

Maybe PGA golf course should look into installing artificial turf on parts of their course's. The way football and most baseball stadium do. Just a thought. But these golf course should be regulated on how much water they are allowed to use. But won't happen because money talks.

[@lelandthomosoniii4743]

Smart

[@christopherd.337]

@Sheps true true.

[@tommurphy4307]

@@christopherd.337 many use reclaimed water- do you know what THAT is??

[@garldeenlinche1418]

Abuse, not storing and plain polluting it has brought us to this point like Egypt Nile rive . Pumping water for golf courses, hotel water false, private pond for housing complexes, water for filthy rich to squander, easter for pools or for just anything not relevant to drinking or farming or bathing really isn't necessary .

[@tommurphy4307]

and all those floods- you forgot to mention the floods.....

[@axelramirez6730]

Its funny how you make really good points that make sense but there will always be that person in the comments and in life committed to fighting the cold hard truth out of pure denial. instead of fighting the problem itself

[@llibressal]

@@axelramirez6730 Farms use 80% of the Colorado flow. The problem isn't golf courses and swimming pools in the desert.

[@axelramirez6730]

@@llibressal " I will fight these hard facts to the death! Because depleting water and dehydration is democratic propaganda!!" Lol ok bro

[@khakicampbell6640]

"All of us are concerned, but I also have a lot of faith in the people working on the problem." lol 🤣🙄 I've long since lost faith in those people!

[@burgrboyontheroof]

It's almost like, building cities in the desert and then filling them with millions of people is counter intuitive, or something.

[@ronandpatd5980]

Exactly!

[@hanovergreen4091]

:D :D :D

[@navajodoll6320]

This is why natives wouldn’t create huge cities. Unsustainable. Wasteful . Bad for the ecosystem .

[@yoshi450gmail]

This is why natives collected rain water and didn’t waste more water in each flush then they would drink in an entire day.

[@fatguy6153]

@@navajodoll6320 No, natives most definitely had large cities, I don’t get why people assume that they were too primitive to establish their own civilizations. It is either racism, ignorance, or even both.

[@JWhisp]

Golf courses and monoculture grass lawns especially in such a hot and arid climate is just an absolutely idiotic waste of water. Water for drinking and farming is much more important

[@pudanielson1]

70% of water is used for farming, in the middle of the desert

[@russcollar5353]

Not farming alfalfa or cotton or anything except vegetables. The very idea that someone would grow alfalfa or cotton in a desert is ludicrous I hope they all go bankrupt sooner rather than later. Poor idiots.

[@nunya2954]

@@russcollar5353 - WHY are we growing anything in a desert/arid region?

[@HondoTrailside]

It is always someone else's problems. Conserve water yourselves.

[@marcussurleyadventures1928]

To have a farm in the middle of the desert is plain dumb

[@gladegoodrich2297]

Looking down at the river from the north rim I'm amazed how small it is. How can it supply water for all those people and farms?

[@ryannechvatal9888]

Ground water is used as well

[@mcdirtywork]

I'm 43 years old from Philadelphia, PA and I have never, I mean ever, seen the Delaware River so low. Between Trenton New Jersey and Morrisville pennsylvania, at low tide you can literally see halfway across the river. I mean like the riverbed. I remember noticing about 4 months ago the jet stream which usually for the most part flows west to east, and mostly along the north of the US/ south of Canada. I don't know when it started but it was around 4 months ago that I noticed the jet stream still obviously flowing from west to east, but dipping and Diving like a roller coaster in ways I've never seen it, also dragging from Southern California into phoenix, New Mexico, Texas then shooting straight up. This is we barely ever drop of rain in the Northeast us while at the same time the folks in the Ozarks are being flooded, then again, then again. Controlling the weather to justify and fortify the global warming I've Been Told since 5th grade in 1992 would swallow Florida whole in 10 years, then in the year 2000 in college, then 10 years after that when 24-hour news/propaganda became a thing, and of course the following 10 years on your "smart" 📱...

[@brianmacintire3064]

The Colorado River is not "drying up". It is being sucked dry.

[@sam-ww1wk]

Yup!! Tired of people saying it's drying up. Uninformed news. Who are these guys. Probably from LA.

[@LeesReviews69]

The Colorado river isn’t like a lake, it doesn’t get sucked dry. it is constantly being refilled. But there’s no freaking rain or snow to refill it.

[@shaystern2453]

exactly

[@louiscypher4186]

@@LeesReviews69 When it's being drained faster then it can be replenished it is indeed being sucked dry. The river was at historically low levels, well before this drought hit.

[@brianmacintire3064]

@@LeesReviews69 It's a finite amount of water, and it's being sucked dry. There is no argument against that. Lack of snowpack only makes it worse. Water use is going up, snowpack has been going down. Rain doesn't do much for this river. It's driven by snowmelt.

[@marcosayala4828]

Don’t let big companies tell you to do your part in fighting against this when they’re about 70% of the problem.

[@seibertsmiths]

Who do you think buys those big companies products?

[@abandonedfragmentofhope5415]

Down with the corporations!

[@kanethompson708]

👍

[@palehorserider1407]

Exactly climate is not changing its being engineered !!! They have been spraying the skies for years !! Look up Bill Gates been talking about blocking out the sun for the longest ! Chemtrails use to be a conspiracy theory till government came out and said we are blocking out the sun bcuz of climate change bs !!!

[@davidbeaulieu4815]

@@seibertsmiths people like you.

[@daniel.478]

She said "she has faith in the people that are working on the problem" and that its a "concern"? Lady, we're screwed! Let's not brush it under the rug until it's too late because it's already to late! A dry and grim future awaits!

[@reggieabdullahcarter8162]

You’re correct

[@SuperBlueeyes89]

Oh yea 100% im in the thinking this world wont be here in 25 years might not even make it 10 years the way its looking. They seem to fix things but this is something that cant be fixed and not to mention the glaciers are melting at a fast rate. Were fucked to say tge least.

[@johnlux6635]

@laughing Atyou I read your comment. I'm laughing Atyou.

[@Joverlordify]

I love how she is just not allowed to say what she really thinks. we will not get 4 years of snow. that's not how climate change works. has the earth heats up wet places get more rain and dry places get less. we won't ever see snowpack like we did only 20 years ago

[@jakehildebrand1824]

Sure we will, just waot for the climate cycle to come full circle.

[@ceirwan]

​@@jakehildebrand1824 We've disrupted the cycle. Right now we should be in a glaciation period, not a warming one.

[@jakehildebrand1824]

@@ceirwan wrong. The earth is still warming up from the last ice age, meaning a warming process. Yes this process is accelerating, however if you look at history, that is not something that humanity has had any influence over. The last ice age marks the beginning of this acceleration, lasting significantly shorter than previous ice ages, and rate of acceleration has constantly and consistently increased at an exponential rate. Why? We don't know why, but we do know that we had absolutely nothing to do with it. Blaming ourselves for things that we are not responsible for is not going to solve anything. In order to solve climate related problems, we should instead be asking questions like; If humanity isn't causing this then what is?, what does the acceleration of the climate cycle actually mean? Will the process ever stop accelerating?will it ever decelerate? Or more theoretical questions like; Does the acceleration of the climate cycle mean that the cycle will end? And if it does end, does that result in a constant unchanging climate, or an unstable unpredictable and rapidly changing climate?. The most important question we should be asking thought is; How do we prepare ourselves to better adapt to the changing climate?

[@jakehildebrand1824]

@@ceirwan technically you're not entirely wrong though, because if the cycle hadn't started to accelerate we would still be in a glaciation period, and that the fact that the process is accelerating does technically mean that SOMETHING had disrupted the process, so you are right in those regards.

[@neal.karn-jones]

@@jakehildebrand1824 It is ridiculous to say that we have no effect on the climate. Yes, there was a little ice age, recently, and yes we could be seeing a normal fluctuation that is not totally caused by us. But to deny that we have any effect on the planet is just ignorant and dangerous. There is plenty that we can do to help - regardless of who or what is to blame.

[@squid_fish]

People move to AZ and all they want is AC, water, paradise green grass and “freedom”…it’s a desert.

[@crowlsyong]

Exactly. The problem is not the golf courses, it's the decision to actually live in a desert. It's literally drying up and they still won't accept defeat. Those who stay in Arizona will suffer the consequences of their actions. I feel bad for the children and wildlife.

[@sacskim916]

My in laws left for Arizona ten years ago for said fReEdOm and it just baffles my mind. They have to get in their RV and head to the Oregon Coast every summer for 4-5 months because it’s simply uninhabitable in the summer in AZ.

[@yvonneplant9434]

According to the Census 2020 Phoenix has by-passed Philadelphia as the 5th largest city. Although Philly and its "collar" counties also grew ,the city still fell short. But, Phila. isn't going to go dry like Phoenix will. There are climate change concerns though. Parts of Phila. will likely be underwater sometime in the future.

[@nosomnesmentitisunt2043]

FREEDOM should be first on that list without this you have nothing!

[@johnbeh9795]

Most of that water is used in California not arizona.

[@xotiic4229]

if you’re aware of everything going on around the world, and then see how fast this river is drying up, anybody with common sense can see how fucked we are

[@LxneWxlf702]

Lot of people dont see it...some people thinks its whatever, " they're going to resolve it "....in reality we are fucked and theres no point of return.

[@theaustinomaster]

As someone doing a chemical engineering degree with focus on environmental sustainability it's sad to see a lot of ppl similar age to me thinking there's really nothing we can do to alter the course of climate change when that isn't the case, it just sucks because the large corporations that are responsible for so much of the emissions are part of huge lobbying groups with a lot of influence on government policies

[@laurenz4528]

Nah US water usage is just beyond mad

[@xotiic4229]

@@theaustinomaster if it doesn’t become an inconvenience for the big polluters and the rich, very little will change

[@theaustinomaster]

@@laurenz4528 it compounds to make the problem a bunch worse, the Colorado is dammed so much which doesn't help the water levels but you'd have to be living under a rock to not notice the rise in global temperatures and how frequent extreme weather events are becoming

[@nightwaves3203]

Farm in the desert areas, make use of multiple grow cycle crops in a years time then be amazed of how fast the water went down.

[@andrethompson2034]

Can't imagine a river drying up, I live in Nashville Tennessee where the Cumberland river runs through the city. Makes me wonder what would happen to the city if it dried up 🤔

[@desertangelfish140]

Once they start siphoning from it and sending it to the west then you'll know!

[@tommurphy4307]

we could have a bourbon supply chain problem??

[@erwinbolink]

The lady at the hoover dam sums up perfectly what is wrong with our perception. At 6:50 she says it has never been this bad but at 8:50 she doesn't think it is going to be a problem meanwhile the dam is getting closer to its minimum level. Thinking it won't be a problem in the future is exactly what got us in this situation in the first place.

[@Herr2Cents]

Thanks for the time stamps. The dam is a tool that seems to be doomed to stop working.

[@yvonneplant9434]

She's completely delusional. She will still be thinking it all will recover. It won't.

[@xxsoulpatchxx3362]

Denial and Hopium. Hell of a mix. LOL

[@horus7732]

I had the exact thought, the problem has been building up for years but it will magically be resolved and things will go back to what they were, magic!

[@nicolea8205]

@@yvonneplant9434 it’s how most Arizonans react when I tell them that I’m leaving this state before the water wars start.

[@oldcountryman2795]

Given that the Colorado river can’t support 40 million people *and* turn the deserts green, well DUH!

[@markbrophy5454]

The river can easily support 40 million people, the farmers are using nearly all the water.

[@kittenritty7959]

Especially since the petrified forest here and mass farming in the 30’s helped fuel the dust bowl and were getting rid of natural vegation for houses that will use more water. When it rains it’s gonna flood no natural barriers to stop the flow and take in the moisture.

[@charleslindsay3201]

golf courses and swimming pools in the desert-what's wrong with that picture?

[@thedonketh3894]

@@markbrophy5454 obviously it cant support 40 million people. how do you think you feed all those people? through farmers

[@crowlsyong]

@Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho farmers farming in the desert. Golf course or not, these farmers are silly for trying to farm here. They had it coming, their intelligence is correlated to their suffering. Irrigation, killing soil, using pesticides, torturing animals, karma is catching up

[@shazalishaharuddin7220]

Pls update to the recent situation... We are observing your plight....

[@roberth3094]

The colorado river is not made, nor does it have the resources to supply 40 million plus people. Even historic snowfall will not be able to keep up with demand. None of the western water sources are able to keep up with the increased demand. The solution is to use desalination or pipeline infrastructure from water-rich states.

[@AkureiNoKaras]

the first cutback should be businesses like golf courses, things that waste water. Farmers need water more than rich people need to golf or homes need green lawns when they build in the desert.

[@JohnnyKarate44]

Agriculture uses 70% of all water usage. Don’t grow crops in the desert. I agree with you on all points, but irrigation in a DESERT is a bad idea.

[@danielmartin7197]

@@JohnnyKarate44 Agree. Specially high water use crops such as Alfalfa, that is just dumb.

[@americanhero8606]

Certain crops need to be banned or strictly curbed. Water reservoirs and underground well access need to be taxed in order to push the unproductive and wasteful water hogs to cut down on usage. Water is too precious of a resource to just leave untaxed and unregulated.

[@bencera6067]

Yup cut the golf courses and other wasteful yuppy corporate BS.

[@carbass9264]

I agree with your points but being a farmer in the desert nowadays is also a little bit a "waste of water" because you need so much more than in other states with enough water.

[@hedleykerr3564]

"When the well is dry you will know the worth of the water" Benjamin Franklin!

[@TermlessHGW]

Also they should seriously consider doing something about people, in NYC only in the black neighborhoods, who open up fire hydrants and let tons of fresh water just run down the streets sometimes days at a time. Thinking about it what a paradox. Millions of people in the mother continent are without fresh water and yet here they are so wasteful...

[@Mk101T]

@@TermlessHGW Chances are the water of the fire hydrant would have flowed through there naturally . You need to get hydrolically educated ... before you start thinking you can make water decisions. Geeologee baybee

[@doobidoo095]

CO2 at 0.04% is a 2,500th of the atmosphere. That means to warm the climate by just 1"C carbon dioxide molecules must capture 2,500"C of heat energy. That is impossible. It also breaks the fundamental laws of thermodynamics. Methane at 0.00017% is a 600,000th of the atmosphere so it's even more impossible. However, the climate is changing. This is because of deliberate geoengineering programmes, in particular ozone thinning away from the poles. Though largely unreported ozone thinning effect is directly observable, this summer you can see a unnaturally bright sun just as we did last year. Under these conditions the pain felt when looking at the sun is not only from the increase in visible light but the much larger increase in infrared. (Look up at the sky and you will see a range of geoengineering operations in progress, these include chemtrail induced cloud or hazing, ripple patterns caused by HAARP installations, bizarre and unnatural cloud formations). Climate change is a programme to force change in accordance with the implementation of Agenda 21 /2030. Current events demonstrate this transition is well underway and will involve massive population cull through injected nanotech (re transhumanist programme). Agenda 21 also sees the permanent loss of all property rights with the introduction of universal basic income (ref NESARA/GESARA) and has/is being promoted by The World Economic Forum. 'You will own nothing and you will be happy' WEF In a depopulated world the surviving brainwashed and controlled population will be confined to mega cities. Carbon limits will be used to restrict consumption and liberty. Meanwhile the re-greened wilderness will be the exclusive playground of the ultra rich elite posing as conservationists. The CO2 hoax amounts to the theft of the world and the enslavement of humanity by a parasitic few. Welcome to the future! _________ I have included a debunking of 'accumulated heat' as it is so often used to explain how trace elements, so called 'greenhouse gasses', can warm the planet. Accumulated heat whilst sounding a reasonable explanation of how heat can build up is rather nothing more than gobbledygook. In fact it shows those using such arguments do not even understand what heat is. When we measure temperature we are measuring the heat energy a thing is losing. In short heat is a measurement of flow, the transfer of heat energy and this will always be in the direction towards the colder. For this reason a thing can never 'accumulate heat' in the way those advocating CO2 climate change describe. The temperature of a body is the measure of heat output, it can never be greater than the measure of heat input. Output = input. When a thing is warmed it is heated to an equivalent of the heat input. If this input is not maintained it will cool. Those that propose that heat can build up to be hotter than the total measure of heat input at a given time either do not understand what heat is or are being deliberately misleading. To illustrate, an object being heated by a flame can never become hotter than that flame, it's temperature cannot rise inexorably to the temperature of the sun for instance. Heat cannot be accumulated. When we think about it common sense tells us this must be the case. NASA and even Nobel Prize winning physicists have expounded 'accumulated heat' as the explanation how CO2 is able to warm the atmosphere. They claim that over hundreds of years CO2 has captured heat energy and this heat has 'accumulated' to produce a serious warming effect. As I have just explained, this is totally impossible and fundamentally violates all the laws of thermodynamics. That respected scientists should support such uneducated, unthinking nonsense is disturbing and only reflects that in terms of being able to think clearly about a subject they have no facility or inclination. These are the Dark Ages of science. Belief has outweighed logic or any critical thought. It tells us that we should not unquestioningly accept anything we are told, that experts can be fools. (NB: be aware of attempts to discard thermodynamics by talking about biology. Eg. 'It only takes a drop of arsenic to kill a person.' This would be somewhat desperate, muddled thinking. Clearly biological processes based on the reaction of a cell are not the same as the laws of physics/thermodynamics).

[@frenchonion4595]

It will make gold look worthless

[@danielservant0153]

(sahkainyayshusai myanmarninenganko sanarr par hcay ) We believe Jesus Christ saves Myanmar! Lord save this country in Jesus Christ Name!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKDRZZR8jLGlf68

[@Dunning.Kruger]

We are in a population crisis. 40 Million would be a decent number of people to get rid of. Colorado is no loss either. So, win win.

[@gunplow]

Will it effect Yuma AZ produce

[@patrickhealey7348]

Absolutely shocking that when you build massive city’s in a desert that water shortages will become a problem.

[@elira123100]

😂😂😂

[@dmannevada5981]

The cities aren't using the water. Cities like Las Vegas as part of Nevada, gets a 2% water allocation, and they're only using about 2/3rds of that allocation. So what made you think it was the cities...who told you that or how did you get that impression?

[@elira123100]

@@dmannevada5981 Just when I thought people couldn’t get anymore dumb, here you come along. People don’t shower with milk, soda doesn’t come out of the tap and grass does not grow with Harry Potters wand.

[@bavondale]

@@elira123100 You are the ignorant one. Dman is correct. The vast amount of water is used for agriculture. You can remove all the cities from the southwest and there will still be an issue. Farming, in a dry desert basin, is what is taking the water

[@elira123100]

@@bavondale If we removed the cities and there would still be a water problem then why build the cities in the first place? There’s already a shortage dummy.

[@randomguy1017]

It's crazy to think that in just 200 years this dam will be the site of the largest battle seen between the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion

[@nearby222]

Nice

[@hollow6189]

lol

[@Bergen98]

Is this a *Fallout New Vegas* reference? Very nice

[@TarkovFleaMarketSeller]

Do you like the site of your own blood?

[@kenthanna]

It could be long dried up by that time. I'd expect the war to be fought over the Great Lakes.

[@woocheongan1437]

Water shortage is the main problem in the desert, which makes it impossible to live normally in the desert, but the scary thing is that with the destruction of the ecology, the area of ​​the desert is getting smaller and smaller, and the government has introduced relevant protection and defense measures in time, but It is still difficult to meet the demand, and it is hoped that the worsening situation can be alleviated as soon as possible, and man and nature can coexist peacefully.

[@SylkaChan]

"cloud seeding"

[@mikeberray1175]

you'd think people would be more educated wouldn't you?

[@tomcash4277]

It's time for an update, as of today lake Mead is at 1043 feet, 24 feet lower in the last year or less

[@MultiMojo]

"We don't anticipate water levels below 950ft" - famous last words. Hope they have contingency plans

[@daryl4307]

I remembered the first time i watched the film, "THE LORAX".

[@dayglodoggy]

I was waiting for her to add "this year"

[@happylittlesynth]

@J S Agreed. They are all fucked.

[@Raysgarage90]

I’m sooo FAWKD :(

[@mikehunt4797]

Thanks H.A.A.R.P.

[@susannadzejachok3230]

When l visited the Southwest in the 80s, they used water like crazy, trying to get the desert to look like Ohio. l found that disturbing.

[@brianhalps]

did you also find it disturbing that the farmers think the water is better spent on their crops and their way of life than on humanity itself?

[@MagicalBread]

@@brianhalps You have no idea how important food is. Food is a life line. It’s our fault that farmers have to grow so much because we Americans are greedy and ungrateful. We take everything for granted.

[@brianhalps]

​@@MagicalBread I'm a specialist in Human Geography. Food cultivation in the SW is not as important as water. And just shouting into the air American's are greedy is BS. The farmers in California and the SW are the worst, they grow some of the least important most water intense crops, in a desert! Just look up how much water cotton takes, how much water avocados require, how much water almonds require. It's a joke, because California used to look like the Ole South with its orange orchards... which required virtually no water in comparison. Also do we need to grow cotton in the SW? No, we do enough of that in other areas in the US, where water is plentiful. Sure Vice news likes to say they're "alfalfa" farmers, but its that kind of propaganda and mismanagement that have lead the SW to be in this position. Hold the Farmers accountable for their mistakes in the SW

[@apocalypsepow]

@@MagicalBread doesn't the us waste like 40 percent of their food.

[@lexwaldez]

@@brianhalps crops that are heavily subsidized by taxpayers... it's a rational decision from their perspective, but it's morally bankrupt

[@mountianbreed5493]

Yes but I was wondering some thing with the poles shifts and gravity brining some what a gravitational disruption do is it possible that the basin may be up lifting and cut down in Water flow s . Just saying . Y'all

[@OCRay1]

That type of farming has to come to an end in many regions around the world including obviously the SW US. They use far too much water compared to the major hydroponic farms which can stack on a small footprint of land and use far less resources. People may need to relocate from some areas and animals will need to be helped in major ways. It’s a nightmare but we must look for innovative and charitable ways to make things tolerable if not somewhat stable. Fighting for the old ways is illogical and detrimental.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

ban all irrigation of grass, including home lawns, golf courses, parks and roadside lawn strips! STOP using decorative plants that are not adapted to a dry climate! and in entivise farmers to grow crops with low water consumption using drip irrigation, or set up some sort of closed/recondensing greenhouse systems...

[@rickc2102]

💯

[@kyleh4354]

Also, tell everyone to stop having babies! All of these issues are just going to keep getting worse the more people we put on the planet.

[@royhernandez4872]

Okay we something called the bill of rights here in the US we are not a communist regime unlike China. You scream ANTIFA supporter

[@bigzachful]

@@kyleh4354 Abortion is already at an all time high

[@justice4549]

I think there is a big difference between forcibly limiting families from having children or multiple and acknowledging we are heading towards potential mass loss of life and encouraging people to not have children. It’s like cigarettes, we can’t make you stop, but we can have anti smoking ads on nearly every tv channel.

[@coke8077]

it’s almost like building farms and massive cities in the fucking desert isn’t a good idea

[@sownheard]

It's almost like deserts get created by a lack of water

[@AGMI9]

massive cities anywhere are a mistake, most societies/towns should never get over 3000 people

[@brucegelman5582]

Dont blame the desert for human stupidity.

[@lxndress]

@Woody Woods lol precisely.

[@linkspeaks]

@@sownheard It was already a desert before the water shortage, that's a dumb argument

[@gregj7916]

at the Hoover Dam the lady from the bureau of reclamation said they had people working on the problem with the low water level, what exactley did she mean?

[@elisekrentzel27]

All over TX also. I moved to Austin 11 years ago and how many droughts later golf courses still get preferential treatment. It’s sick!

[@tima.478]

When you consider the fact that this river has flowed for millions of years, untouched without any issues at all...we touch it for just a blink of an eye and it's virtually destroyed! This is truly sad.

[@Automedon2]

That is true with everything. Humans didn't overpopulate for 200,000 years (because of natural diseases and famine) The more 'problems' we try to solve, the more we battle nature, the worse it becomes.

[@blackjohnson5195]

Hey Tim, You heard from a Child, "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done." Now get up and start dancing!!!

[@jaygarcia6094]

we?? i've never touched this river. More like YOU. Since you said we, Im guessing you had something to with it

[@blackjohnson5195]

@Heloise O'Byrne Understand. A run on the Banks is a Capitalist's nightmare. A nightmare at the dinner table too. The problem here is that the 2% get dividends every quarter. When stupid ass Reagan's trickle down ended up in multi million dollar Jets and Yachts, the expenses went to a new level. Hell, I pay 5 dollars for a decent loaf of Bread.

[@Gustav4]

The worst part is that nobody can understand or talk about the real cause of this, it is not how we use the water that is the problem, the problem is that America's land is deteriorating so fast that it cant supply water to the rivers and also the health of the land determine the rainfall, so with degrading soils we are effectively reducing the amount of rainfall. Civilizations has failed through the past 10.000 years due to this fact and them not understanding the role of the soil. This is beyond politics or anything, it is too important for any ego or what ever to be in the way, lets sacrifices everything to spread this knowledge so we can start addressing this serious issue. We have to wake up or America is Fuc*ed. Make this the most popular comment if you are inspired to be the generation in history who changes this human error we have had since dawn of times.

[@ipwee]

The fact that people have lush lawns in a desert is absurd.

[@genyoder7566]

Its called freedom. If you work hard and have your own property you should be able to have your own well on your own property.

[@emceeboogieboots1608]

@@genyoder7566 Suppose your neighbors sink deeper wells and grow cotton, making yours run dry?

[@ipwee]

@@genyoder7566 I have no idea what country you live in, But in the states, your property is subject to eminent domain. Besides that, Narcissistic behavior is nothing to be proud of.

[@genyoder7566]

@@ipwee not narcacitic its being fed up with the willingly ignorant fools handing America over to the globalist that want to depopulate it and steal th land. Imenent Domaine is an unconstitutional illegally concocted USA INC Usurpation by the shills in govt that don't get it that freedom is not up for negotiation ever! It is in the constitutions of every state and the nation that these rights are unalienable rights ! That means the Can Not be gone around changed taken away distorted unless proven in trial of your peers that you have tresspassed another man's rights, aka,, property natural or God given such as life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am an American and I know I am free. This faux corporation is violation g all the laws of the land and the Nuremberg Codes set up so internationally they are not to usurp the right of any man woman or child, born or unborn! There diverting the rain and snow for nefarious purposes is not a light subject. Imenant domain laws are for _fools_ that gave up on the laws of this land.

[@genyoder7566]

@@emceeboogieboots1608 Americans need to start working together not looking for big brother to come save the day. That just invites problems like Iraq and Vietnam had by letting the C I A run its country for a while. WRK THINGS OUT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS YOUR SELF FIRST THENOF THEY DONT WORK WITH YOU YOU GIVE THEM NOTICE OF CIVIL ACTION OTHERWISE WITH TIME TO DECIDE TO NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISE.

[@waynewayne9693]

I love the mindset of being shocked when you take more water out of a system than it naturally receives and acts shocked when water level lowers.

[@penphil6761]

Bingo!

[@albertsparrow9485]

This video was 11 months ago it's now July 23rd need a follow-up video to this one.

[@baddarkfaller4568]

she said, "i have faith on the people working on the problem." Who? The politicians? We're screwed...

[@johngalt8279]

People of faith, who are praying to Jesus for rain.

[@greg1030]

@@johngalt8279 LOL! Look to your own mind and actions to decelerate climate change. And stop reproducing like rabbits if you really expect to fight climate change!

[@happygp698]

She has faith in God.

[@XM-qk5sh]

These are the same people that haven't done anything meaningful in 20 years. That is some wishful thinking.

[@Veeger]

They've known this was coming and continued to carry on unsustainable expansion until collapse of water resources. Who are you able to trust?

[@danielgomez1923]

Native Americans used to say "Don't exploit the land. Learn to live and coexist with the natural environment." Native Americans walked the talk.

[@BFaluup]

Yeah it’s too bad we don’t understand to a better degree the teachings of many of NA tribes they were truly connected to the land and were a part of it...southwest tribes fully adapted to and became part of the desert each tribe you can see their environment reflected through physical traits.

[@jeannichols2459]

@@BFaluup If I'm not mistaken it was Siting Bull when he saw how the pioneers were tilling up the soil of the prairie made the comment they turn everything upside down. What a wise man he was.

[@nyunixguru]

People wouldn’t listen to the Indian with a tear in his eye

[@magnus4346]

@@BFaluup The biggest challenge would be tolerating adversity and getting spoiled Americans to live VERY minimalist.

[@rickschuman2926]

Does not see the difference between evaporation and pouring out?

[@therealkrystalvintage]

fivegee doesn't have any thing to do with the sudden severity of 2021 water loss does it?

[@tedpreston4155]

Alfalfa and Cotton are exceptionally water-intensive crops. Growing those crops in the desert can ONLY work with copious amounts of irrigation water. Sand doesn't retain water in the root zone, so growing such thirsty crops requires regular irrigation. The flood irrigation methods that are so common in the desert are inexpensive, but they are also horrifically wasteful. Most of the water farmers flood across the sandy soil never reaches a plant's roots, because it simply runs deep into the sand. If farmers want to continue raising alfalfa and cotton in the desert into the future, they MUST adopt more efficient irrigation methods. In order to encourage farmers to adopt more efficient methods of irrigation, Congress has established funding to cover most of the expense of installing more efficient systems. And yet, even when taxpayers are covering most of the cost of efficient irrigation systems, and are also providing financing to help the farmer cover their small share, the farmers still won't update their irrigation equipment. They want cheap, plentiful water provided at taxpayer expense. They don't want to install sprinkler systems even when the taxpayers pay for most of that cost too. Why is it so hard to convince people that the benefits of living in a society come with responsibilities as well? The social contract is not a one-way street.

[@FateTurns]

Because a large majority of people are taught to be selfish.

[@tedpreston4155]

@@FateTurns You're right about that. I've traveled all over the world, and the most self-absorbed people I've met have been right here at home in the U.S.

[@curiouscampbell5447]

Exactly

[@cyrilsquirrel2874]

@@tedpreston4155 don't you believe it ,they are all over ..even mentioning to the middle class that their almond ''milk'' is unsustainable as a crop and is environmentally destructive will only draw a blank stare, that the fashion they discard daily is the same....but i will admit ,most of that farming is done in areas that are desert, which is crazy

[@bassketchum]

@@cyrilsquirrel2874 all the real farmland has been bought out and put houses or mansions on by now.

[@hellomynameisname4270]

golf courses should be considered evil under these circumstances

[@johndough23]

Yep the concept of the fairway needs to be renamed the dirtway.

[@corkyvanderhaven3391]

In the valleys, yes

[@tommakarov]

@@aman-qj5sx I doubt the rich will want to play on concrete fields

[@skygge1006]

Stop blaming the golf courses sure they’re a problem but the main problem is the farming which uses 70% of the water and to add onto that farming plants like alfalfa uses huge and I mean huge amounts of the water farming in the desert is the large problem

[@hellomynameisname4270]

@@skygge1006 you can't compare farming anything to jacking off our precious water supply onto arbitrary patches of mono culture that only serve to please the aesthetic perversions of some viking descended alpha male with a pension for leveling anything that stands before his gaze...

[@PSA04]

What I really want to know is... "who," is working on this problem? I have just started to deep dive into this subject and it seems large corporate agriculture is taking up a majority of the water to produce almonds in CA? Looking to become educated on this subject. Places like Pheonix have huge population increases over the past couple years and is encouraging more growth. Is it corporate water greed that's causing the problem or population explosion in the South West? I mean here in my neighborhood in LA of just one year, three very large apartment complexes are almost finished being made. Where's the water for the future of these real estate investments and how come no one is talking about reducing water use in our communities?

[@mountainman5025]

Joe Biden has a plan; he just can't remember where he put it.

[@duanebailey6253]

If the water isn't making it to Lake mead than it's not going to CA. Need to look more upstream at the water ducts and aquifers to see what's going on.

[@twagoner21]

in america you take profits now and deal with consequences later.....or I'm sure someone will. Also, I sure hope none of you conservatives are looking for government policy to bail you out. government bad! grab those bootstraps!

[@SteveAbrahall]

Interesting to see this one year on - VICE can you do a follow up?

[@8arrows]

“Faith in those working on the problem.” Who exactly is that? And how are they “working” on it?

[@21xK]

She's got faith in Carolyn Goodman, selling the most compelling lie.

[@shoersa]

Good luck with that!

[@OceanBlueKeys]

I literally said the same thing! I'm guessing there's a team somewhere out there driving tough negotiations with the climate as I type this.

[@zombienectar]

rainmakers

[@Skapo]

@@OceanBlueKeys Well in a sense, yes. There is a lot of research going into stuff like carbon capture, sea water desalination, aerosol based atmospheric cooling, vertical farming, kab grown meats etc. Still nowhere near enough to match the scale of severity of the problem especially as we keep realizing how timelines for climate changes were actually too conservative, but there are some big resources going into finding solutions that can be scaled up.

[@abetg2009]

Don't forget that golf courses in AZ were marked "essential" during covid lockdown.

[@markbrennan8705]

Golf Course should not be essential farm land that needs water to grow food should be Highly Essential

[@jays2551]

golf courses shouldn't even exist, golf is a retarded game that wastes precious resources like water and arable land

[@jerroldbates7015]

@@jays2551 those wealthy retirees that always played golf back home, must have a lot of clout.

[@bidenadministrationischina5091]

Fk golfers. They don't even use the water. It's just there for scenery , which they probably don't even notice in the first place

[@andreblackaller3560]

I think they might be dependen ding on who you are haha.

[@spacecase6825]

i am in wyoming right now for work and i’ve noticed the entire town of jackson hole and the surrounding areas have the sprinklers on even when it’s 50 degrees out . all the locals keep complaining about the snake river running dry yet the entire area is a sponge from overwatering .

[@eugenehancock2649]

Can sea water be used instead of fresh for 2/3 of water usage in the large cites and fresh water for drinking?

[@solidsnake902]

No

[@katel3962]

The problem isnt lack of water. The problem is farming in a DESERT, building homes and businesses in a DESERT, building lawns and golf courses in a DESERT. Respect Nature.

[@xoxoxoxoxo7997]

Especially Vegas

[@Pixelsplasher]

Those people living in the desert? They will simply migrate to greener parts of the US when the water runs out.

[@enticingmay435]

Phoenix is the fastest growing major city in the country and its literally in the middle of a desert. People from California and the East Coast are moving here in droves driving the housing prices to skyrocket to the point of it becoming unaffordable to the locals. The city is ever expanding into the desert with new suburbs with cookie cutter houses being built all the time. People take the resources that they have for granted and thinks that it’s infinite. It’s a build, build, build mentality that’s going to backfire massively once the water runs out. Let’s see how many people will remain once severe water restrictions are in place.

[@Quellthathitta]

@@enticingmay435 facts I’m from Denver Colorado originally, but I’ve been in Phoenix for the last two years! I see it already transpiring.

[@pilotactor777]

Spoton Kate.

[@blastfiend7478]

Same shits happening to our rivers here in Australia - the cotton industry has basically destroyed the Murray river and it’s ecosystem

[@factanonverba7547]

That and cats

[@chaitanyarao5546]

@@factanonverba7547 I find it hilarious and fascinating that Australia rages war on cats and emus. They even have the World's longest fence to protect against Dingos.

[@johndough23]

Disposable clothing...made to wear out and disintegrate on a time schedule. Those practices should be outlawed Globally. Planned Obsolescence needs to go ASAP.

[@factanonverba7547]

@@chaitanyarao5546 they call them invasive species, but we all are. Cats rule, dingos drool

[@shredderly]

same happened with the Aral sea.

[@danchrysler4284]

It's not climate change, it's the golf courses and swimming pools and big fountains.

[@stirgy4312]

In 96, during a visit I took a picture of the intake towers, recently I found a picture of the same view from 2021. It's unbelievable how low it has dropped just in those years.

[@RichterBelmont2235]

First-rate country, third-rate farming technique. You can't keep doing this "strip farming" and wasting water resource forever. But then again, having green lawns and golf courses in the middle of desert is as equally as disconcerting.

[@bustedknuckles6051]

What do you propose the farmers do differently?

[@DJFRITTZ]

@@bustedknuckles6051 transition to airponics and hydroponics where stacked farms can produce rediculously more food per sq ft of space and use a fraction of the water. This stuff isnt difficult to learn either. Having said that... we can do without those golf courses first

[@thomasbingham2797]

Totally agree

[@vlogcity1111]

@@DJFRITTZ you need a lot more capital and labour and different machines to manage hydroponics. These farmers don’t have the capital to make the switch

[@Gustav4]

The worst part is that nobody can understand or talk about the real cause of this, it is not how we use the water that is the problem, the problem is that America's land is deteriorating so fast that it cant supply water to the rivers and also the health of the land determine the rainfall, so with degrading soils we are effectively reducing the amount of rainfall. Civilizations has failed through the past 10.000 years due to this fact and them not understanding the role of the soil. This is beyond politics or anything, it is too important for any ego or what ever to be in the way, lets sacrifices everything to spread this knowledge so we can start addressing this serious issue. We have to wake up or America is Fuc*ed. Make this the most popular comment if you are inspired to be the generation in history who changes this human error we have had since dawn of times.

[@marktrinidad7650]

The priorities of America is truly mindboogling. Military over healthcare, education. Golf courses over farmers. No wonder they are blaming and smearing other countries to hide their paranoia.

[@Anthony-xv6tk]

more like priorities of the rich elite ruling class. thanks capitalism!

[@jjmo7383]

America squandered $2 trillion for the Afghanistan war - a fiasco - enriching the military industrial complex while bring death and destruction to the Afghan people. Imagine if this money was spent on the construction of infrastructures that benefit the American people. Why? Corrupt and incompetent lawmakers.

[@marktrinidad7650]

​@@jjmo7383 Geez you're right the war on Afghanistan alone could have build an extensive continental hi speed railway all over the United States. And remember the cost is just on Afghanistan. Imagine if the cost could have included the war on Iraq, Syria, the Middle East, the money could have put the United States at the forefront of its competition with China.

[@vardenfell971]

golf courses over idiotic farmers.

[@zachheisen5022]

@@marktrinidad7650 and what of that rail system? it would rust with no support because america already has an extensive air and ground transportation network.

[@amimrie]

water level is now below the minimum required to produce power.

[@brokefarmerjohn2422]

The southwest had a good run, almost 100 years of water wasting bliss. But like all good things it’s coming to an end where the practices they used were unsustainable. Like growing a crop that will only grow if you pump 100s of thousands of gallons of water. You used up all your ground water, it’s not climate change that did it.

[@erow80]

“Water, water, water....There is no shortage of water in the desert but exactly the right amount , a perfect ratio of water to rock, water to sand, insuring that wide free open, generous spacing among plants and animals, homes and towns and cities, which makes the arid West so different from any other part of the nation. There is no lack of water here unless you try to establish a city where no city should be.” ― Edward Abbey

[@factanonverba7547]

"water water everywhere, not a drop to drink," Samuel T. Coleridge

[@1RustyGee]

Precisely, Arizona should not be full of people its never naturally had the resources to sustain that.

[@lukegaming86]

This is true but the water resources that have been available have been dwindling because of shortfalls in the predicted snowpack and rainfall. The reason? Climate change

[@ianchandley]

@@1RustyGee this very issue was covered in great detail in the book “Guns, Germs and Steel” regarding the lack of development in this region during pre-Colombian times. Quite fascinating that we are living through a repetition of history, only now it’s the white man’s turn and our technology can’t do anything about it....

[@SwagFlap]

@@lukegaming86 whaaaat Climate change? who would've thunk it.

[@jamilwilliams5080]

It's almost like farming in the desert is fucking reckless to begin with

[@bidenadministrationischina5091]

It's how we survived over generations

[@russelltackett4779]

Nasty

[@eclipse369.]

@@bidenadministrationischina5091 wrong You went where the water was.

[@NiminaeOld]

Well it wasn't when there was water here.

[@dennisp3314]

AND - we are growing water crops (alfalfa, etc) in southern AND Northern AZ for the Saudis. To Export. Same reason we long ago started growing Cotton in Arizona for God's Sake.

[@HepCatJack]

Reintroduce the Beaver in the Colorado river near where they are trees, they will soon re-establish wetlands and slow down the flow of the Colorado to the sea giving the ground a chance to absorb water. Rotate the grazing areas used by cattle so that grass near the river aren't over grazed.

[@ivermectin7751]

10months later. 140 feet now. We have about 2-7years Before It's done generating electricity.

[@jeremykiahsobyk102]

If you're in the Southwest and you have a lawn, you're goddamn irresponsible.

[@diffusesingularity2760]

yeah it is a waste of water and plain grass lawns inherently suck either way, but the blame does Not fall on regular consumers - that's the basis of ecofascism which corporations continually use to blame working and middle class people on their lack of responsible recycling and taking 4 minute showers as the cause of these environmental issues, when it is always wealthy corporations driving the irresponsible use of water and other resources.

[@raypitts4880]

which river do the bottled water come from deepest wells for nothing sold at a profit.

[@cageybee7221]

growing cotton in the desert, no fucking wonder there's no water. that's how the aral sea dried up.

[@scottedwards6578]

But there are people managing it we are so much smarter now 😠

[@erwin887]

@@scottedwards6578 that happend not too long ago mate

[@scottedwards6578]

@@erwin887 and I met it's always the same thing Easter Island 2.0 people always think they are in control until it's to late then blame something else

[@morninboy]

that whole drainage system got redirected. STUPID PEOPLE

[@darijus4094]

The soviet unions' government diverted most of the water to the farms and the aral sea didin't get any water

[@mikecamrcplus3057]

Always blame climate change but never the population explosion and the ever increasing use of water from the river.

[@doodlebg44]

Hey Vice, you should come see how bad things are now; it’s frightening. Vegas is still approving housing developments, encouraging more people to move here, and Lake Mead now has one intake that is dead…above water. A prime example of mismanagement.

[@mckennabrock1865]

I did my dissertation on this and this video is actually kinda problematic. For starters, it doesn't address the main reason we're in this state is because of the policy failure surrounding water in the SW United States. Water ownership is based on a chain of ownership based on ancient prior appropriation laws (ie first come, first served) from the pioneer days. The first in line (or the first who "laid claim" to the land) is able to use as much water as they need and whatever is leftover goes to the next person. The inclusion of the first lady in this video is misleading. She's likely further down the chain of ownership, thus not able to irrigate her crops. (Also, alfalfa and cotton are some of the most water-intensive crops you can grow. It's an incredibly risky decision on her part to grow these crops if she is that far down the chain.) There are people above her freely using as much water as they need; the water restrictions do not affect everyone equally. Another problem this video fails to address is that agriculture is responsible for the *vast majority* of water usage. Municipal use is minuscule in comparison. New developments and golf courses are not responsible for the Colorado River's dramatic decline in water flow. Water generally comes from two places in this region: the Colorado River and the aquifer. Farmers have ZERO restrictions on the amount of water they can pump from the aquifer free of charge. This has resulted in megafarms owned by places like China (no land to grow crops like alfalfa to feed their livestock) or Saudi Arabia (no more water to have agriculture) who build giant pumps to irrigate acres and acres of water-intensive crops to send back to their own countries. The last thing (and the most important) this video does not address is the amount of corruption that exists within agriculture and water policy. Farmers have zero incentive to reduce their water usage because they get heavily subsidized water and insurance payments for growing their water-intensive crops (it makes zero financial sense for them to grow anything else). Farmers vote for politicians who implement these policies. As a result, politicians vote down any legislation aimed at creating more sustainable water usage/limiting water use/setting restrictions on what types of crops can be grown in a drought-stricken area. It's an absolute mess and our politicians are entirely to blame. I really didn't like how this video makes it seem as if there is nothing that can be done.

[@billpetersen298]

Please keep sharing what you know, change is obviously needed.

[@itsmeagain966]

Thank you for the the practical insight 👍 there are clear holes in our water policies that need to be addressed

[@aliciaflores5052]

As an ADWR employee, McKenna summed up everything perfectly

[@chobai9996]

It's because they think it's just climate change, but never think of the nuances of how crises work. Also, anytime you mention the horrible things the Chinese Communist Party is doing you get labeled as a racist by these kinds of people

[@aolvaar8792]

My City sells 5 parts Class A+ reclaimed wastewater for 4 parts Colorado River water. It is used to grow Cotton. She would have traded her allotment for more water(reclaimed). Now no allotment

[@hitts8928]

the earth is giving us so many RED FLAGS in a short amount of time, the future looks terrifying

[@chazl9531]

Very terrifying and yet some idiots are still denying the obvious. Human activity is destroying our planet

[@greatlakegirl3033]

Very terrifying

[@SiiNTi]

What do you think will happen?

[@hitts8928]

@@SiiNTi of the temperature of the earth is increasing really fast past few years, so many countries this summer reached +50 degree Celsius (125 F)

[@SmootherThanSilk]

@@chazl9531 Human activity especially motivated by greed.

[@Plagueheart]

40 million people, this would explain its dry up, excessive use of resources. Lack of rain to resupply, Evaporation from the hot summer which transfers the water to a different location

[@abcderghijk]

Doesn't seem to be drying up in Colorado only in the dessert Southwest..

[@lalah9481]

Why would you have faith in ‘the people working on this problem’ when they’re the ones who got us here?

[@davidday9967]

She's referring to the people at the dam itself. Not the jumbo turds that sell the water off to farms in az and ca. Did you know it's illegal to collect rain in Colorado? Probably most of the south west but I know co for sure

[@isaacb5968]

Because she’s being paid to not look half as scared as she should be. “It’s…concerning.” GTFOH

[@pigjubby1]

My parents moved to the desert in the 1980's. Every house had a lawn. A lawn in the desert was silly. When you build more homes in the desert you add more washing machines, more showers, more car washes.

[@johngalt8279]

....swimming pools, golf courses, water fountains...

[@happygp698]

That is the American dream.

[@justicedemocrat9357]

Yeah the government should ban people from living where they want to.

[@carljohnson7168]

@@justicedemocrat9357 It's not that the government should ban people from living where they want to, but they should start restricting heavy water-depriving resources such as lawns and golf courses in areas where they are dry and receiving extreme drought.

[@pulda015]

@@justicedemocrat9357 don't ban people from living where they want, but they don't get to complain about a lack of water or flash floods in the wash that they built their subdivisions in.

[@ryannechvatal9888]

We need to engineer large atmospheric generators powered by solar and wind to produce water in these drought times.

[@antonioc2017]

Is that possible?

[@ryannechvatal9888]

@@antonioc2017 Yes, a man named Moses west invented the generators.

[@SolidGoldShows]

No water for Farmers means less food for consumers and higher prices. It's coming! Be prepared...

[@dominostabz8234]

I didn’t know taking all the water from a river to make a desert look like Florida would dry it up 🧐

[@ToriBailey]

It's not like Florida. It's a concrete jungle. It's all the humans consuming it. It's not going into the ground in AZ

[@notapplicable328]

That greenery was very artificial if you’ve been to AZ a lot of homes just have gravel front yards because grass isn’t fit for that climate. Stop trying to farm in the desert. You would think the dust bowl would’ve told us where in the US had soil suitable for farming.

[@karstenhanson5095]

@@notapplicable328 actually not true at all, I'm an Arizona native and there is millions of acres of farmland that is extremely fertile and suitable for farming. Its not like farmers are just trying to turn sand into crop fields here.

[@dmannevada5981]

It' didn't. People living in that desert barely use a any water in the scheme of things...and I know you don't know where the water is being used. Hint: the water is being used to feed you...hello!

[@dmannevada5981]

@@ToriBailey Yes, all the humans are using it...ACROSS N. AMERICA & THE WORLD. When the BOR's own data shows that over 80% of the water is being used to produce agriculture, agriculture that is feeding YOU, the rest of N. America & the world, obviously that "concrete jungle" isn't the reason for the water crisis.

[@fuckingdonut9489]

The amount of water needed to keep the grass that green is enormous. It's a bunch of rich privileged ppl that want to live and play golf in "quirky" places. Greta got one thing right, dreaming of eternal economic development should not be happening when the ground beneath you doesn't have any moisture and the air around you is blazing

[@bobbowie9350]

Depends on the seed.

[@SRM_NZ]

You're a fool with an analogy like that....it's not farming or green spaces....it's urban sprawl, storm water and 8 billion selfish humans using the blame game while refusing to implement rain water harvesting and conserve water...it's not green spaces...it's people just like you

[@anthrosapien3784]

Greta got something right one thing

[@MrSladej]

Greta got nothing right. She’s and her handlers are just like the rest of the climates fear mongers. If a different group had a better idea or better solutions Greta and gang would be their enemies. It’s a power thing. And at the end of that struggle is the rest of us getting the shaft whilst these privileged people carry on as normal. That’s why people reject these scientists and activists. Rules for thee not for me. Covid showed everyone that.

[@royormonde3682]

Lol...oh ya, the rich have all filled their basements with water, I'm sure they'll be fine. This drought effects everyone, rich or poor. Golf coarse's, baseball fields, football fields, swimming pools, laundry, toilets, thirsty people.....they're all a factor. Try and keep up and lose sight of reality, it's the climate change we've been warned about for 50 years. Farmers are the ones hogging the water and their time is up. Maybe the farmers growing corn for a fuel additive can take over where these guys left off.

[@willa1699]

950….the water is currently at 1,087?? Why is this not front page news? 😢

[@jbshaka653]

How do you negotiate for something that no longer exists?

[@energiewender143]

2:50 Granddad getting ready to plant cotton - in Arizona. Arizona literally means arid or dry zone, and cotton has a bad reputation for needing huge amounts of water to grow. How can you call yourself a farmer and yet be so clueless about how nature works? How can those people feign surprise that there is no more water after consuming unsustainable amounts of water for generations?

[@why-xr6lg]

Less money in farming drought tolerant foods to increase the local food supply and use the water for good.

[@mrbear1302]

They wouldn't be planting so much cotton if people weren't buying lots of stuff made out of it.

[@MC-tm2uy]

They are both victims and perpetrators

[@janeblogs324]

You realise US money literally grows on cotton trees?

[@offchance789]

Honestly the sooner these boomers start meeting real water adversity, maybe they'll switch to a drought resistant crop. Oh who am I kidding.

[@robertkerr9527]

My extended family moved to Las Vegas over 20 yrs. Ago and my sister to Boulder city. I've been to the hoover dam multiple times when I visited and each time I was shocked by what I saw. This has been happening for decades and nobody wanted to admit this day would come. No one should be surprised.

[@zacharypeery4082]

Boulder City is hell on earth I'm my humble opinion

[@erikloiselle3912]

my thoughts exactly.

[@tyrone-tydavis5858]

So what you're saying is you're part of the problem.

[@robertkerr9527]

@@tyrone-tydavis5858 Ha, what troll. I live in Europe actually. And Las Vegas is just part of the problem. The water in the hoover dam is already low by the time it gets there because of poor management and its over use in Northern California, not Nevada. But already knew that.

[@tyrone-tydavis5858]

@@robertkerr9527 So did you take your extended family with you or are they still there in denial as well?

[@josemaciel6662]

The earths axis has shifted by 80 Kms towards Siberia. So the North and south poles are melting and the cold temps have shifted North. Less snow in the South

[@GaryInSoCal]

Lake Mead CAN EASILY be saved. Run a pipeline from the Snake River (due north of the Colorado River) to it, instead of letting those trillions of gallons of water run to the sea in the Missouri river. If the government can run a oil pipeline from Canada, it can EASILY run a water pipeline from one river to another.

[@twagoner21]

you used so many caps IT REALLY MUST BE EASY! tell us more about this pipeline that could emulate the volume of the co river at normal levels. then again, wouldn't it be simpler to not develop/farm/golf/grow lawns in the desert? spend a couple hours in AZ and feel how all stores/restaurants etc run the AC and you'll see how little people there are thinking about resources. heads. in. sand.

[@Bloodylaser]

As someone who is from Arizona. Let me tell you water needs to be an important issue in EVERY election here.

[@PatheticTV]

@@mehoff88 lmao Americans really be harping on about freedom then tell each other they can’t live where they do because they need water 😂

[@dstyd]

As someone who was born and raised in Arizona I understand. It's to hot for me so I left.

[@janeblogs324]

Water isn't a right..

[@Niko-vh8jh]

@@PatheticTV 0 logic was detected in that sentence.

[@danielmocsny5066]

I wasn't aware that voting creates water.

[@campll121]

Farming in a desert doesn't seem like a great idea to begin with..

[@farmerjohn6526]

Where I live in the east...we have empty farmlands and tons of water

[@greg1030]

@@farmerjohn6526 Where I live in the east on overpopulated, over developed and obscenely over priced Long Island we have tons of water and practically NO farm land, for obvious reasons.

[@clairedgaia3626]

There is actually thpusands ofvyears of dryland farming in tandem With nature, by Hopi, Dine, Zuni peopleas and more. They did ceremonies to call on rain and protected, blessed their water. It is the big ag, greedy, manipulative, power over nature corporations destroying soils, making dirt lifeless, with no regard to water that contributes much damage.

[@gringrin3979]

Cactus Farmers.

[@TheDoorspook11c]

Right

[@levismith3252]

I'm loving this I live in Mount Vernon Washington State we still have all the water and all our rivers

[@trustmeimafailure]

Desert suburbs literally are one of the main clauses the Colorado river is drying up

[@emmaevans7011]

When we all start starving, it won't be just the farmers crying. I was in school studying hydrology in late 80's and early 90's. Topic of every conference was water shortage.

[@helenclark7876]

Yes we were as well

[@morninboy]

Yea it is something I recall from the 80's. That was the surface water problem they presented. Then there is the aquifer problem.

[@whitewaterphilosopher126]

“I have a lot of faith in the people working the problem” famous last words

[@emilym2521]

And incredibly foolish.

[@brokendownoldman9547]

Why are golf courses "exempt" from the water ban?

[@shilohdrew8651]

Las Vegas is actually one of the most water-sustainable cities in the world. They have almost zero blades of grass in that city. Yes they do have ridiculous fountains, “beaches”, and golf courses. However, they recycle every single drop of water going out of indoor homes, hotels, and pretty much anywhere water flows. Other states have tried lazily to follow suit but none have been as aggressively impactful as Las Vegas. The Colorado River Act was made way back in 1927, when they decided the allocated water percentages per state following the wettest 30-some years in America. Vice didn’t mention this which is disappointing. Climate change is definitely a problem as to the heat and lowering of Colorado snowfall. However, there is certainly a more effective political fix. Which involves rewriting the act and reprioritizing farmers, dams, and lakes. Offering big community pools instead of a bunch of medium sized ones is a great way cities can offset water usage. We could limit shower times, require drought resistant lawns, and use more industrial, water-conscious car washing practices. Numerous political fixes to an environmental problem. We don’t even need a trillion dollar green new deal to fix this water shortage problem in the Mojave. We require better policies and prioritizing.

[@_D1886]

“Water, water, water....There is no shortage of water in the desert but exactly the right amount; a perfect ratio of water to rock, water to sand... There is no lack of water here unless you try to establish a city where none should be.” Ed Abbey

[@SegoMan]

JWP congress of this and the west would not support large cities.. What did they do? Lol

[@jaysoncolbert6187]

I'm an American and if I want to drink more water than I will, it's called manifest destiny

[@jaysoncolbert6187]

@@thecrappycoder ^ Assume their gender immediately

[@emceeboogieboots1608]

@@jaysoncolbert6187 Cool, so no problems if other Americans consume your portion then? Being their manifest destiny and all...

[@RoscoRide]

And they failed to mention Nestlé’s corporation using water from the dam In years past

[@mrike5651]

They used up Florida's water in our fresh waters.

[@Automedon2]

True, but they were producing water that people actually drink.

[@erickeller162]

@@Automedon2 Water that used to cost cents per gallon they are now selling at 2 to 3 bucks per bottle?

[@erickeller162]

@Will Smith You missed my point entirely. Nestle takes municipal water at huge discount rates and sells it back to you at an inflated price. Go look that up if you don't believe me, it's pretty common knowledge and I'm not here to argue about it with you.

[@shariyahlevvi9142]

@@erickeller162 Blue gold documentary spoke on how nestles was sucking lake superior water, bottling, selling it

[@dustyroads5811]

When people move to a desert and expect to live like their in a rain forest dont blame it on climate change its been changing for thousands of years people have it in thier minds that the climate is static its not.

[@cb2000a]

Yep...look at the dustbowl years in the last century.

[@dominicconnor3437]

The gal at the end said "I also have a lot of faith in the people who are working on the problem " Sorry lady it's up to mother nature.

[@GaiusCassius15]

I can't help but feel as though this video tries to make that farmer and her family seem like the good guys, but her and her farm are part of the problem. Your growing cotton in Colorado? Just as short sighted as the cotton farmers in Arizona and several other desert-like states. If we want our water supplies to become sustainable we cant have people wasting it on products that can be made sustainably in other locations

[@charlesgarrett7766]

Yeah the south is still the cotton capital

[@johnb7046]

Exactly, thank you. Water intensive crops in deserts are indeed part of the problem. With soil desertification, chemical fertilizers, water mismanagement and greed I honestly think we are heading to another dust bowl.

[@ElevenAce]

I hear you points but when you think about it we use cotton everyday. Like she's growing that for the economy. The other water uses are less useful. In another video the golf courses were using tons of water just so folks can hit a few balls??? And I'm sure there are other farmers growing food too.

[@williamrose7184]

During the dust bowl it wasn’t because of lack of water there was so much water there but they just didn’t know how to access it at the time

[@masterdecats6418]

@@williamrose7184 they didn’t till the soil correctly. They literally planted, grew, and extracted without putting nutrients back into the soil.

[@salkoharper2908]

Cotton is one of the thirstiest crops you can grow, it require thousands of litres of water for a small cultivated area. Its only really suitable to grow in hot climates with high rainfall, like the South Eastern parts of the US. Cotton is grown in Egypt, India and Bangladesh heavily too but only along rivers like the Nile delta and Ganges delta where there is huge amounts of water for irrigation. Its never been a native crop in a desert region anywhere in the world.

[@CLAYMOR916]

Damn thanks for sharing. I appreciate that fact man

[@ralphholiman7401]

That's why it grows so well in places like Mississippi that can get up to 100 inches of rain a year.

[@danieljones317]

@@ralphlaguna5433 thank the government for that debacle. As a matter of fact, you can pretty much blame all our problems on our Control Freak government. If there is one unwavering constant with them, is that they ALWAYS make the wrong decision.

[@danieloshea3326]

Almonds require a lot of water too

[@danieljones317]

@@danieloshea3326 food overall requires a lot of water. Thank California for dumping huge quantities of water into the ocean to save some little endangered fish that's just going to die because of their drought.

[@WayaWolf]

Not to be political, if there isn’t enough water for the amount of people who live in the u.s, then why is our government letting states decide what they want to do about abortion….

[@Jack-by2hg]

A desalination plant off the west coast was supposed to be built and running by next year and provide 50 million fresh water gallons per day. But that got cancelled.