Catholics are sounding the alarm on dwindling Colorado River

Photo: An elevated view shows the dramatic decline of water levels at Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nev., The nation’s largest reservoir has reached its lowest water levels on record since it was created by damming the Colorado River in the 1930s, as growing demand for water and climate change shrink the Colorado River and endanger a water source millions of Americans depend on. (OSV News/Bing Guan, Reuters)

When renowned science fiction author Robert Heinlein wrote in his apocalyptic 1952 short story “The Year of the Jackpot” that “the Colorado River was at a record low and the towers in Lake Mead stood high out of the water. But the Angelenos committed communal suicide by watering lawns as usual,” such a scenario was still the stuff of fantasy.

But imagination sometimes has an uncomfortable ability to become reality. The American Southwest is in the grip of a megadrought that jeopardizes the Colorado River, and with it, water supplies for major U.S. population centers and farm producers.

Representatives from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming reached consensus May 22 to use 3 million fewer acre-feet of water by the end of 2026 . An “acre-foot” of water is equivalent to 326,000 gallons.

Arizona, California and Nevada in particular agreed to the federal government’s proposal to try to save the 1,450-mile-long Colorado River from going dry by reducing their water intake 13%.

This scale of water conservation is thought to be unprecedented — but a motivational nudge was given by the federal government last June, when the states were told to figure out how to use less water, or the government would do it for them.

Catholics in some of the affected states are complementing the government’s effort to prevent disaster with principles of Pope Francis’ landmark 2015 environmental encyclical “Laudato Si‘” firmly in mind.

“Creation Care Ministry recognizes water conservation as critical, especially here in Southern California, where a long history of drought has had and continues to pose a significant impact to the poor and vulnerable,” said Christina Bagaglio Slentz, associate director of Creation Care in the San Diego Diocese’s Office for Life, Peace and Justice.

“Not only is there a cost in terms of increasing financial expense, but there is also a major threat […]

Full article: angelusnews.com