In recent months, the western United States has experienced unprecedented dry weather. The ongoing drought has not only caused the water level of the local reservoir to fall to an all-time low, but also seriously threatened the production and livelihood of the people due to the drought.
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According to the U.S. Drought Monitoring Center, about 40 percent of the country is currently experiencing drought.
In the western United States, about 88 percent of the country is in drought, and droughts in California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada are worse than in other western states, with some areas reaching "unusually dry" levels.
According to CNN, the drought in the United States has never been so severe in the past 20 years.
Hoover Dam water levels are at an all-time low threaten the safety of local electricity
In addition, the drought has caused the two largest reservoirs in the United States on the Colorado River, the Lake Powell Reservoir and the Lake Mead Reservoir, to remain at low water levels for a long time. The data shows that the two reservoirs currently hold only about one-third of the water storage capacity.
The Hoover Dam, located on the Lake Mead Reservoir, is currently 45.72 metres below its highest level, an all-time low.
As an important water facility in the region, the Hoover Dam provides electricity to more than 1 million residents in Arizona, California and Nevada.
The data shows that the low water level has reduced the dam's generating unit power generation by 25%. The Head of the Colorado River said that while the dam will continue to operate, it is expected that there will be a shortage of electricity in the local area for the first time.
Drought persists Ranchers say cattle farming has become unprofitable
It is understood that in the western United States, local agriculture and livestock industry relies on about 90% of groundwater and surface water.
Rancher Atkin runs two cattle farms in Utah and Arizona, where his family has been in the cattle industry for nearly a century.
According to Atkin, the drought situation has not been as bad as it is now in nearly 85 years. As the drought continued, cattle farming became unprofitable, and he even considered moving the family business to places like Texas and South Dakota. Currently, he has sold about 80% of the cattle in the pen.
Rancher Atkin: The combined precipitation over the past 15 months has been only 3 inches (about 76 mm).
Reporter: How much precipitation is there under normal circumstances?
Rancher Atkin: In previous years, the average precipitation was 9 inches (about 228 mm), and I couldn't control nature.
There is no better way for local state governments in the United States than to call on people to conserve water. Utah Governor Spencer Cox recently took to social media to call on people to fix leaking faucets, avoid prolonged showers, and then pray for rain.
(Edited by Guo Tingxuan)