Kip A. Magee
Great Basin College
3, April 2018
Droughts of the Western Nevada
Civilizations
Abstract
What
is the status of drought in Nevada? What risk does drought pose for our
communities and ecosystems that we depend on? How do climate change projections
impact the risks posed by drought in our state?
N
|
evada
droughts conditions are due to extremely abnormal lengthy period without any
precipitation. In 2015 it was the most extreme drought period in the Nevada
region history in quite some time. But the current state of Nevada drought is
still dry but coming around in 2017, which prove to be better with
precipitation moisture creating much need rain. With the very much need rain in
the valley it left Nevada with many of hazards’ condition. The long -term period
of warmth precipitation climate made the condition less excepted to the wet condition.
Thus, creating extreme flooding areas endangering livestock and highway roads
condition. The flooding from the drought created a different environment for
the wild life and farmer livestock. The vegetation for the livestock crops were
loss due to the flooding change in the soil, the much need nutrients loss from
the fast down pour of rain.
Besides having the change in
environment, the range fires damage much of the refuge for Nevada. The fires on
the range where wild life feed was engulfed and made grazing difficult for wild
burros, horses, and game. This drought period made hazardous practices for
ranchers and national parks. Grazing became scares, making the food source
less, it is having the effect of the living environment. Animals in the wild
would have to travel out of there normal to feed, making habitation dangerous. As
we learn from ranchers back east if the water wasn’t available to grazes cattle
move the heard. So, Nevada rancher would ship its cattle back east to feed them,
but the prices became inflated causing rancher to keep there cattle out of
State. Many farmers were counting on the
Sierra Mountains snow melt to run off and help with the agriculture
environment. But, due to the difference of land region the water was used
immediately making the drought still affective in prohibiting farming. The
Nevada State Climate Office are in constant survey in developing practice to
prevent drought management theory. “NSCO has a number of research projects
aimed at developing a better understanding of the frequency and magnitude of
previous short-and long -term droughts, why they have occurred, and how our
modern water resource infrastructure would respond to some of the longer-term
megadrought conditions that we know happened in the past.” (Elliott 2014). We
are still in the state of abnormally dry climate but the precipitation has drop
more since 2015 and the loss of corps has reached a large some. “According to a
report released Aug 18 by researchers from University of California, Davis,
drought-related agricultural losses across the Golden State in 2015 alone
totaled more than $1.8billion.” (DeLong 2015). The Nevada Drought Strategic
Plan has 4 goals and funding strategies. Its intention is to monitor water by
creating a multidisciplinary advisory board. Provide public awareness to
educate on the droughts. To be informative on the growth and population of
Nevada in relating with droughts. Taskforce will assistants with information to
farmers and rancher and industries. To also be resilient with drought
information about wild life and livestock. The Drought Response Committee (DRC)
will work with primary state agencies, federal agencies and stakeholder on an
“in kind” basis. To provide investigative and federal aid, state funding will
be an issue and lobby the legislative session. (Elliott 2014)
Resource
Jeff DeLong 2015.
“Growing problem: Drought hits Nevada agriculture hard.” Web Internet https://www.rgj.com/story/news/201509/02growing-problem-drought-hits-nevada-agriculture-hard.
April 4, 2018
Bill Elliott 2014.
“Nevada Drought Strategic Plan, A map for a more drought resilient Nevada.”
State of Nevada Drought Response Committee. Nevada Division of Water Resources:
Nevada Division of Emergency Management: Nevada State Climate Office. Internet
April 6, 2018.
Kirk Siegler 2014.
“Nevada Farmers Hack The Drought By Switching Up The Crops.” NPR Station. Web
internet
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/20/2921179944/nevada-farmers-hack-the-drought-by-switching-up-the-crops.
April 6,2018
