Dam News, Part 1: Droughts
In the United States, the American West is facing a drought that has drawn down reservoirs to levels previously unseen in their operational lifetimes. Lake Mead, the USA’s largest reservoir by volume, has reached historic lows, now filling only 36% of its intended capacity . Water levels behind some dams are so low, that they are in danger of no longer fulfilling their intended purpose - to generate electricity. At Lake Mead, the Hoover dam has decreased hydro power production by 25% and Northern California's Lake Oroville dam may have to shut down completely due to low water levels.
Researchers report that the low reservoir levels are the result of “the worst 15 year drought on record.” Scientists refer to the unprecedented recent dry trend as a “megadrought.” The reality of the once mighty Colorado River no longer able to “sustain 40 million people and a $5 billion-a-year agricultural industry” will have devastating consequences.
The human impact of the megadrought and decreased energy production can be felt in communities and industries throughout the West. Cattle ranchers may have to cull their herds and agriculturalists have been forced to rip out their fruit trees due to lack of water.
Not only are peoples’ livelihoods challenged, but there are social, cultural, and economic impacts from droughts that “can continue long after the meteorological drought has ended,” as described by people who lived through California’s 2012-2016 drought. Historically, migration has been an adaptation strategy to long-term droughts. Those that do not migrate sell off their land and resources, and incur debt, unemployment, and face the effects of poverty. A long standing discussion of the impact of drought on early Indigenous populations and Anasazi groups continues as scientists continue to uncover evidence of historical climate patterns and migration.
The rapid onset of climate-induced droughts today may have more severe consequences as there are few places of respite from the effects of climate change. Short-term actions like filling Lake Powell with water from upper basin reservoirs are not a sustainable solution; it is a desperate measure to ensure continued electricity production at Glen Canyon dam.
Environmental organizations are working with stakeholders throughout the Colorado River basin to find more long-term solutions. Their report outlines 10 strategies for decision-makers across all levels of governance to collaborate and coordinate efforts, relying on new technology and a variety of resource management solutions to build a resilient future for all of its water users.
Given the grounded reality of climate change-induced drought in the West, and the serious consequences it has for dams, livelihoods, and communities, I question the feasibility of more dams being the solution to climate change. Hopefully, the international climate community will pay attention to the local complexities of drought and reconsider promoting dams as a mitigation solution.
You can monitor the Colorado drought in real time as it impacts peoples across the state at Colorado State University’s Climate Center.