Climate Change in CA

There's a new online tool, called Cal-Adapt, which allows users to explore the possible impacts of climate change on California.  Google, the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, and several universities were involved in the project.

Check it out:  http://cal-adapt.org/

They should make one for Georgia!

The Drought is Over (for now)

                                                           Photo of CA Sierras by chucklepix

No, this is not an April Fools joke.  Things are looking good on the water front - Lake Lanier is full, and with this year's massive snowpack in the Sierras, California's Governor has officially declared the three-year drought in that state over.  Here's Governor Brown's proclamation:
http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=16959

But this does not mean we can get complacent.  Though our water supply levels are deemed sufficient for the short-term, another drought is a fact of life for both Georgia and California.  Now is the time to start putting conservation and efficiency measures in place, and to come up with a sustainable plan for Georgia's water future.

Welcome to H2O-lanta, Atlanta's water blog!

Hello y'all!  It seems some introductions are in order.  First off, why am I interested in water?  And what do I have to add to the conversation?  I have spent the majority of my life living in coastal California, where water is constantly on everyone's mind.  Southern California is utterly dependent on imported water in order to support its economy - from tourism, to the military, to construction and agriculture.  The region's growth would not be possible without water imported from Northern California and especially the Colorado River.  While in graduate school studying United States History, I found Californian's relationships to water so interesting that I wrote my PhD dissertation on water infrastructure development in early twentieth century San Diego, California.  Now I am teaching in the History Department at Georgia State University, and continue to read widely about local, regional, national, and global water-related issues. 

I heard about Atlanta's water woes during the region's latest drought, but didn't think much about it, until I relocated here at the end of last summer.  Now that I'm living in Atlanta, it is time to do a little research on my new local water system.  This blog will record what I discover as I learn more about Atlanta's drinking water and people's interactions with the local environment.  The Southeast is not generally considered arid, so what's the deal with a water shortage?  Is this something new?  Where does our water come from?  What are the most urgent current issues pertaining to the water system?  How does access to water impact the local community, those downstream, and the environment?  Most importantly, what are some possible solutions for a more stable and sustainable water future for the metro Atlanta area?  Coming from an area that is constantly plagued by drought, maybe Californians have some insight to share with Georgians - both in terms of successes and potential pit-falls to avoid.  Lets solve Atlanta's water problems, one step, or one drop, at a time.