In the opinion of experts, the sierra nevada snowpack is required to meet the demand of one-third of California’s water every year. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory undertook a study on this subject and feels there is a need to restructure the management of this all-important commodity. There must be a means to preserve the precipitation of winter for use during the summer to prevent scarcity of water and drought situations.
Los Angeles Times reported on the new study. There are fears that California may not be able to rely on melting snow forever because Global warming is the villain. The study indicates that the size of the Sierra snowpack could keep shrinking unless there is a stop to the production of greenhouse gases. The reduction could be to the extent of up to 79 percent.
The study focuses on global warming
The study reveals the ill effects of global warming and highlights the importance of checking greenhouse gases. The researchers conducted an exhaustive study and concluded that the volume of the Sierra Nevada snowpack could reduce by 54 percent in the next 20 to 40 years and the reduction could go up to 79 percent in the next 60 to 80 years.
Obviously, the authorities must assign necessary priority and take suitable action to arrest climate change.
The study goes on to add that the effect will vary from region to region of California and will depend on the height of the Sierra Nevada. It considered 10 of the state’s largest reservoirs and said that reservoirs in the north will feel the effect more as compared to those in other areas. It will be up to the water managers to work out how best they can strike a balance between water storage and flood control.
Global warming cannot be ignored
Mercury News likens the Sierra Nevada to a giant frozen reservoir because the winter snow melts in spring and summer months to provide water to nearly one-third of California.
However, global warming could play havoc with the availability of this water. This could affect the farming sector and the authorities must introduce suitable changes in the state’s water system that's been used for nearly 100 years. The intention must be to check global warming by restricting the burning of fossil fuels. These trap heat in the atmosphere, and the surrounding temperature rises. The shrinking snowpack will increase chances of wildfires, which will lead to loss of not just the green cover but also loss of wildlife habitats apart from damage to the infrastructure.