The latest drought monitor shows three-quarters of the U.S. is now dealing with some level of drought or dryness. Of that, 60% falls in the D1 moderate drought to D4 exceptional drought categories, the highest level since November 2022. To put it in perspective, drought coverage has only exceeded 60% about 30 times in recent history, 25 of those during the widespread drought of 2012 and 2013.
Corporate farms are bleeding our aquifers dry. In places like Arizona and California, these massive operations guzzle groundwater without regulation. This unsustainable practice harms local residents, smaller farmers, and the environment.
Unlike individuals and small farms, corporations have the funds to drill ever-deeper wells, chasing retreating groundwater. Their unchecked extraction leads to dry wells in nearby communities, forcing people to buy bottled water or go thirsty.
Corporate farms prioritize profits, often growing water-thirsty crops unsuitable for arid environments. While fields of almonds or alfalfa may be lucrative, they deplete precious aquifers with alarming speed. We need policies that prioritize the long-term health of our groundwater. Regulations must address unsustainable extraction, particularly by large corporations. We need to champion water-wise crops and support farmers dedicated to conservation. The water crisis is real. It’s time we hold powerful interests accountable and demand a future where water isn’t solely a commodity for the highest bidder.
Corporate farms are bleeding our aquifers dry. In places like Arizona and California, these massive operations guzzle groundwater without regulation. This unsustainable practice harms local residents, smaller farmers, and the environment.
Unlike individuals and small farms, corporations have the funds to drill ever-deeper wells, chasing retreating groundwater. Their unchecked extraction leads to dry wells in nearby communities, forcing people to buy bottled water or go thirsty. Corporate farms prioritize profits, often growing water-thirsty crops unsuitable for arid environments. While fields of almonds or alfalfa may be lucrative, they deplete precious aquifers with alarming speed. We need policies that prioritize the long-term health of our groundwater. Regulations must address unsustainable extraction, particularly by large corporations. We need to champion water-wise crops and support farmers dedicated to conservation. The water crisis is real. It’s time we hold powerful interests accountable and demand a future where water isn’t solely a commodity for the highest bidder.
“A collaboration between NASA and the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatial (CNES), with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency and the United Kingdom Space Agency, SWOT is scheduled to launch in November from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.“
“SWOT has several key tasks, including measuring the height of water bodies on Earth’s surface. Over the ocean, the satellite will be able to “see” features like eddies less than 60 miles (100 kilometers) across – smaller than those that previous sea level satellites could observe. SWOT will also measure more than 95% of Earth’s lakes larger than 15 acres (6 hectares) and rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters) across.”