Maybe you’ve heard that Lake Mead is on the rise again.
It’s up a little more than it was a year ago, about 20 feet higher than where it was at this time last year.
They released more from Lake Powell upstream in April. Plus, we had a very snowy winter. Snowmelt from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains feeds the Colorado River.
But everyone who lives in Las Vegas or Northern Nevada knows that this all just a mirage. One wet winter does not overturn more than 20 years of drought.
We just had the hottest July on record. Kingman, Arizona this year set a record of 114 F; Reno set a record of 108. A record 126 degrees was reached in Sanbao, China. Other records fell in Europe.
Then a week ago, scientists said over the years, extreme heat and drought has evaporated several trillion gallons of water from the Colorado River basin.
Lots of this people in Las Vegas already know, like John Entsminger. He’s the head of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. And his actions today, in conjunction with other southwestern states, will largely determine the future of Las Vegas.
Guests: John Entsminger, general manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority; Alex Hager, water reporter, KUNC
