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From: Lance
Date: 30 May 2002
Time: 02:17:31
Remote Name: 66.82.48.1
Droughts Part III of VI We had an idea to help awareness, of the drought and we have been emailing this to many organizations and government agencies. You are welcome to this information. We wrote a book on car wash fundraisers and you may find that chapter II helps since it deals with environmental issues of wash water run-off, but even more important Water conservation. -------- http://www.carwashguys.com/fundraisers/LAschools.html ---------- If we help the kids do these fundraiser we can wash with as little as 2.4 gallons per car. ------ I thought everyone might like to know that we at the Car Wash Guys http://www.carwashguy.com are also very concerned and working on real solutions to real problems. We have used this book as a way for kids to do fundraisers and to help conserve water. Otherwise there will not be any left. Every car that comes through the fundraiser can get a water conservation handout. These are just ideas to help. -------------------------- Why would we bother trying to help people and cities around the country with our, well here is the answer. If you study the locations of cities they are along rivers usually and there are many rivers which are running out of water, here are waters being used for massive water needs of people, these are also being hurt ecologically. Ecologically these are the endangered US rivers------- The American Rivers 20 Most Endangered Rivers in the United States; 1. Columbia River, Hanford Reach (Washington) 2. Missouri River (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) 3. Pocomoke River (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) 4. Kern River (California) 5. Blackfoot River (Montana) 6. Colorado River Delta (Mexico: Baja California, Sonora) 7. Chattahoochee River (Georgia, Alabama, Florida) 8. Lower Snake River (Washington) 9. Apple River (Wisconsin, Illinois) 10. Pinto Creek (Arizona) 11. Wolf River (Wisconsin) 12. Potomac River (West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia) 13. Rogue/Illinois River System (including Elk Creek and Rough & Ready Creek) (Oregon) 14. Taku River (British Columbia, Alaska) 15. Crooked Creek (Arkansas) 16. Passaic River (New Jersey) 17. Mattaponi River (Virginia) 18. Walla Walla River (Oregon, Washington) 19. Uinta River (Utah) 20. Kansas River (Kansas) For full information on each stream visit http://www.amrivers.org and check the endangered rivers list. ----------------------------------------------- Last year after 9-11 Governor Tom Ridge of PA ended the drought in PA. Then took the job in Washington as Security Director. The drought was very necessary and very short from July 30 to September 30, but it was very real and very bad. Lifting drought emergency helped commerce resume in 54 counties on water use everywhere except Somerset County. The Governor continued to ask Pennsylvanians to conserve, help prevent future drought emergencies. He also called for Congress for farm aid, he stated that: ‘While the drought is over, the damage isn’t’ Pennsylvania was asked to cut 35% and they did. The farmers of PA lost 700 million and were able to get some aid, but not nearly enough. Tom was a proponent of the Farm Aid bill recently in the Senate as well. We know what farmers are going through. --------------http://www.tractorwashguys.com/agriculture.shtml ----------------------- Tom Ridge did an interesting thing after that he left 27 counties in a drought watch, After the Governor signed the proclamation today, he directed Department of Environmental Protection Secretary James M. Seif to move 27 counties into a drought warning and 39 counties into a watch. A drought watch is the first and least severe of the three drought declarations under the state's drought-operating plan. It calls for a voluntary 5 percent reduction of nonessential water use. A drought warning, the second stage of the three drought declarations, calls for a 10 percent voluntary reduction in water consumption. A drought emergency, the third and most severe stage, imposes mandatory restrictions on water use. Not a bad idea really. The question will be when El Nino and La Nina occur in the next two years. Today there is no problem, however there will be in a few months if the Watch Program is not met, things will get worse. The latest drought information including precipitation tables and water-conservation tips are available on the Pennsylvania homepage at http://www.state.pa.us or directly at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Subjects/Water Management/Drought). San Antonio went from a Drought restriction level ! to a drought warning level one, same thing. San Marcos TX is having a war with Vivtoria TX on the same river asking them to conserve, but Vitoria needs the water not for drinking but for Dupont, their major employer, if the Dupont factory closes, we are having a problem. Austin TX is upriver and lots of water now, but the entire area is growing and water is going to be a problem there too. We may have two years of more problems which could put Austin in the same boat as Laredo and El Paso. See these web sites: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wtxrain.htm -------------- Oh indcidentally if anyone ever has the notion that I am making any of this up just because I do not put up a lik or tell you of my references, ditch that notion, this is the unclassified stuff in our research. ----------------------------- In South Carolina they have made a State wide operations manual and sample ordinance for all their cities and counties. Write to sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us for more information. If you would like to view the actual ordinance it is actually very comprehensive and may help evry one understand where the Car Wash Guys maybe in the future when dealing with droughts or drought ridden areas. ----http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/drought/drought_resp_ord.html ----------------------------- They have a drought phase list as the water levels go down, they include as definitions the following; ------------ Moderate Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches the -1.50 to -2.99 range and moderate drought conditions have been verified by best available information, and conditions indicate this situation is expected to persist. ------------------------- Severe Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches the -3.00 to -3.99 range and severe drought conditions have been verified by best available information. -----Extreme Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches or falls below -4.00 and extreme drought conditions are verified by best available information. -------- So now you wish to know what the Plamer index is right? Well here it is, but really you should know what it is already after all for human beings water is life right, well almost. http://enso.unl.edu/ndmc/enigma/indices.htm Now wher do we really stand? And remembering the data changes when? Constantly, there is always rain somewhere, or some large watr user using it, or a fire requiring it or a hydro-electric plant needing it. Or a facotry using it, or a farmer watering. Or you think you need to run your jacuzzi or wash your car. It changes every day, this is serious. --------------- http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html ------------- Palmer Index: a measure of the severity of a drought, or a wet spell, in an area. Dry conditions with positive values, and normal conditions have a value of zero. ------------------- They discuss Essential water uses: water used specificaly for fire fighting, maintaining instream flow requirements, and to satisfy federal, state, of local public health and safety requirements. And non essential too. Non-essential water use categories, other than essential water use, may be curtailed during severe or extreme drought. Some examples of non-essential water uses follows: for Residential uses they feel these uses a problem: 1. Washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surface areas. 2. Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection. 3. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street. 4. Washing any motor bike, motor vehicle, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle in public or private garages or elsewhere. 5. Maintaining fountains, reflection ponds, and decorative water bodies for aesthetic or scenic purposes, except where necessary to support aquatic life. 6. Filling or maintaining public or private swimming pools. 7. Sprinkling lawns, plants, trees, and other flora on private or public property, except as otherwise provided under the Ordinance. Now in South Carolina they also have what they consider non essential uses. Commercial and Industrial: 1. Serving water routinely in restaurants. 2. Increasing water levels in scenic and recreational ponds and lakes, except for the minimum amount required to support fish and wildlife. 3. Irrigating golf courses and any portion of its grounds, except as otherwise provided under this Ordinance. 4. Obtaining water from hydrants for construction purposes, fire drills, or for any purpose other than firefighting. 5. Serving customers who have been given a 10 day notice to repair one or more leaks and has failed to comply. 6. Expanding commercial nursery facilities, placing new irrigated agricultural land in production, or planting or landscaping when required by site design review process. In a moderate drought like Tom Ridges program they escalate the requirements; A. Moderate Drought Alert Phase: If conditions indicate that a moderate drought condition is present and is expected to persist, the SC Department of Natural Resources shall activate the Drought Information Center and notify municipal and county governments in the affected drought areas by certified mail. The Department will also issue press releases concerning the drought conditions to the news media. 1. Goal: (a) A fifteen percent voluntary water use reduction for agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional, and electric power generation purposes. (b) A thirty percent voluntary water use reduction for residential customers. Here is what they will limit first; 3. Water-Use Restrictions: (a) Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock: * Implement conservation techniques, explore different water saving methods, and use alternative sources. (b) Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional: *Reduce aesthetic, domestic, landscaping, and water-based recreational activities such as swimming pools, water slides, and other related water activities. (c) Electric Power Generation (d) Residential: * Reduce water use to seventy-five gallons per person per day, and a maximum of 300 gallons per household per day. * Reduce domestic, landscaping, and water-based recreational activities such as swimming pools, water slides, and other related water activities. After this we get a more severe restriction and more escalation and mandatory information. At severe droughts they restrict people to 220 gallons a day for the family and a maximum of 55 gallons a day per person. They are not only dead serious about this but get ready for it, they are going to use this ordinance starting summer, if they do not get the rain levels up. ----------------------------- Back in June of 2000 we had a problem if you will recall. Drought was withering crops and causing dangerous fire-prone conditions across the nation. If substantial rain did not fall soon, farmers would face severe hardship. Guess what rain didn’t come. In San Antonio down to Mc Allen TX they have eight years of it. You even had Enron trading yes you guessed it Water Futures. The drought extended from South Carolina through Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Gulf Coast Louisiana, and Texas, and throughout the west as well. In Mississippi, corn farmers are praying for rain, remember they are in the Bible Belt, but let me tell you their were others praying for the Rain God too. Their corn was going into the pollination stages and they're worried about proper pollination. In many states, drought conditions had exacerbated wildfires, creating high-risk living conditions for residents. New wildfires started in states stretching from Arizona to Florida. Florida residents -- accustomed to hot, dry weather -- were surprised and alarmed. Big drought, what’s that, why, don’t worry we will have a Hurricane. Now we see that doesn’t help. Northern Florida's hay crop is already badly damaged this year again, forcing ranchers to buy hay from other states at higher prices. We learned in 2000 that in Georgia, almost 5,000 acres burned in the most recent Georgia fire. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Georgia has posted in 2000 the driest May this year since 1895. Well they expect this year to be worse. http://www2.state.ga.us/GEMA/ ---- Even FEMA recogniztes that not only can very dry states burn, so can very green states, states like OR, WI, GA, LA, CO, CA, KY, etc. ---------------------------- Wildfires in 2000 also burning in Michigan, where 40 homes in the northern part of the state were evacuated after a controlled burn on land spread to 400 acres. Another fire in southern Nevada had scorched more than 2,000 acres and many Homes. And, after one of the warmest winters on record, federal officials have declared drought conditions in New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana in 2000. New Mexico has already fought the huge Los Alamos fire and several others, remember? Well here we go again, this time they are ready. Urban and rural residents alike are being affected by the drought. In 2000 Atlanta, the state had imposed tough water restrictions for the first time in 12 years. Well it is still going on today. In Texas, the Rev. Chuck DeHaven, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, said that rural residents were traveling to cities and towns to get water because their wells had run dry in 2000, we remember this as Trey our franchisee who lives there told us of other stories. The drought hit parts of Texas just as other areas are completing recovery from severe flash flooding in October 1998 that killed 31 people and left thousands homeless throughout southwestern Texas. The ecumenical networks put into place after that disaster could help respond to drought, In 2000 Alabama state officials called out the National Guard to dispense drinking water in towns where wells are in danger of running dry In 2000, across the Southeast, crops were withering, and farmers sent cattle to slaughter because there is nothing for them to eat. In South Carolina, farmers had stopped planting cotton and soybeans. Peanut farmers in Georgia report they are losing their corn and peanut crops as well. Most scientists believed the drought of 2000 was a result of La Nina, the cooling phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that has produced warmer winters and drier-than-normal conditions in the Southeast. Well here it comes again, this time they are already down. In 2000 forecasters predicted that above-normal temperatures would continue in the South and the Midwest, and that severe drought conditions which would persist in much of the South. Forecasters also predicted the Midwest would also suffer, particularly Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana. These were among the states hardest hit by the eight-year "Dustbowl" drought in the 1930s -- the worst in U.S. history. Guess what they were right and guess what else, the same conditions now exist. The Southeast has been in drought conditions for nearly five to eight years, leaving some areas with rainfall deficits of more than 45-82 inches. So what does all this mean today? It means unless we figure out a way to make rain without flooding the regions we are in for some much bigger than problems before. It also means the The Car Wash Guys are filing for a logo and trademark “The Water Guys” Here are some stories we found recently; USDA Emergency Designation News Releases (March 16 - April 8, 2002). Eight Virginia counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, April 12, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named eight counties in Virginia as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred last year. -----Veneman designates Montana as drought disaster area: BOZEMAN, Mont., March 28, 2002---- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today designated the entire State of Montana as a drought disaster area. This designation makes Montana farmers and ranchers immediately eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought this year. ------Sixteen Maine counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, March 13, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named 16 counties in Maine as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred last year… Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York counties were named as primary disaster areas on March 11, 2002. Also eligible, because it is contiguous, is Franklin County. ---------Drought related News:------ El Nino May Be Blunted by N.Pacific Weather System, Rene Pastor, Reuters Limited and Yahoo! Inc., March 25,2002 ----------- Record warmth intensified drought, say experts: [According to the experts, record warmth between November 2001 and January 2002 is at least partly to blame for the moderate to extreme drought plaguing 15 states from Georgia to Maine and 14 states in the Plains and West.], Lucas J. Mire, weather.com, Yahoo Inc., March 18,2002 ------ Coming rains not enough to quench drought, Randolph E. Schmid, the Associated Press and weather.com, March 14, 2002 ------- Plains states torn limb from limb, Debbie Howlett, USA TODAY, March 5, 2002 ------- Drought Grips Much of Country, Associated Press and Northernlight Inc., March 02, 2002------- U.S. Drought outlook-------- The Drought Monitor issued on April 11, 2002 indicated that "... Forecasted weather features that may impact abnormally dry or drought areas during the next 5 days (April 11-15) include: 1) A stalled cold front across the southern Atlantic Coast states that may bring scattered showers to most of the Southeast; 2) A fast-moving Pacific storm system should produce unsettled weather from the Pacific Northwest eastward to the upper Midwest; 3) By the weekend, the Pacific storm system is forecast to slow, and combined with ample Gulf and Atlantic moisture, trigger scattered, mostly light showers across the eastern half of the Nation; 4) Unfortunately, it is predicted to remain dry and warm across the Southwest. The NWS 6-10 day (April 16-20) outlook calls for above-normal precipitation in the east-central United States, from northeastern Texas northward into western Great Lakes region, and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Below-normal precipitation is expected for the Far West, Southwest, Florida, and interior Alaska. The Aleutians, Southwest, and the eastern half of the country may experience seasonable to above-normal temperatures, with cooler than normal weather for the northwestern quarter of the Nation and eastern Alaska."----- These are just some of the stories we have collected and have been reviewing as well as the web sites and charts. Also several Emergency Declarations; Emergency declarations: ---Four California counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, March 11, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named four counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by freezing temperatures that occurred last year… Tehama County was named as a primary disaster area on March 1, 2002. Also eligible, because they are contiguous, are Mendocino, Shasta and Trinity counties. ----- Twelve counties in California eligible for USDA emergency Farm loans: WASHINGTON, September 25, 2001-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today named 12 counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency (EM) farm loans due to losses caused by a severe weather earlier this year. -------- Seven counties in California eligible for USDA emergency Farm loans: WASHINGTON, June 26, 2001--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today named seven counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency (EM) farm loans due to losses caused by windstorms that occurred on March 3 and March 4, 2001. Butte County was named as a primary disaster area on June 25, 2001. Also eligible because they are contiguous, are Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba Counties. ---------------- Seven counties in California eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, June 14, 2001 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today named seven counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred November 1, 2000. Modoc and Siskiyou Counties were named as primary disaster areas on June 14, 2001. Also eligible, because they are contiguous, are Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Shasta, and Trinity Counties.------------------------- WashGuys are ready to deliver water if we cannot wash cars, we are ready to help America and our franchisees. WashGuys Water Company, coming to a city near you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Regarding the drought and the developments and challenges ahead. Santa Fe NM as we previously stated is in a world of hurt and they are seriously figuring they will actually run out of water this year sometime. I doubt it, we are in El Nino coming up and the rainy season next year will fill it all up again. Over course we are talking Level three water restrictions and four by Sept. Oct. In other words Car Wash Guys maybe delivering water instead of washing cars. We had previously talked to a scientist from Los Alamos earlier this year a few months ago, who had pre warned us exactly how bad it is there. I wonder if that is why the Canyon DeShea Indians left the area? No water, could this be cyclical over 1000 years ago? --------------- Residents and businesses in Las Vegas, NM also, were asked last month to tighten their water taps even further. City officials declared Stage 2 restrictions -- comparable, Las Vegas NM water utility director said, to Santa Fe's Stage 3 drought restrictions -- to keep Las Vegas' water storage supply healthy during the coming, even more dry months. The city's water storage is at 85 percent of capacity. Evaporation could cut into that amount without more rainfall. They already saw the best of the spring runoff and some of the numbers are the same or lower than the drought of 2000, which sucked. Although they have been able to capitalize a little bit on our storage, I guess no one told them to put a giant pool cover over the water supply like they do on Strawberry fields in CA to prevent moisture from escaping. You know the scientists should know this about agriculture methods. The Stage 2 restrictions clamp down on outside water use, including a limit for residents and businesses to water only once a week before between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Those with even-numbered addresses may water on Monday; those with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays. This means do not wash your car either or get a fine from the water police and don’t think they will not do it either. There will be no car washing at home, and commercial car washes have been restricted to operating only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Yes there are other restrictions such as; No private pools, spas or hot tubs can be filled with city-provided water; the indoor pools operated by the city and New Mexico Highlands University are exempt for now until level three. Water can be served only at the request of the customer at restaurants, big deal more awareness than anything. Ornamental fountains without re-circulating systems must be turned off; re-circulating fountains must be turned off during windy days., good idea I guess, there are quite a few water features in the town of Santa Fe for tourists. One car wash owner we talked to in Las Vegas, NM, said his self-serve car wash business is likely to suffer a loss of 50 percent in business because of the water use restrictions. The water flow is down, and there's nothing in the Gallinas River, it is basically nearly totally dry now. We looked at the river and you could not navagate any more that an inner tube down it, possibly a row boat if you did not mind getting stuck and getting out in knee deep water to push it over the sand bars and rocks once ever 200 yards or so. We see where the needs are for more than washing cars, however we can import the water and wash cars with it and not be restricted, we may do this and you can have anything washed by us http://www.ewashguy.com The commercial car wash in Las Vegas, NM called Water Works, which also has a location in Colorado Springs Downtown will also suffer even though it claims it reclaims about 90 percent of the water it uses. These restrictions implemented thus far under level two drought restrictions hope to conserve 500,000 to 800,000 gallons a day from the city's average daily use of 2.3 million gallons. Which is nearly equal to the total flow of the Gallinas River, which had a flow of 2.7 million gallons. The city next door is also battling for their share, and the water wars have begun with the Acequia Water Association. restrictions seriously. Neighbors call in reports about other neighbors, who get wash their cars in the drive way or run the lawn sprinklers. Comparing Las Vegas' Stage 2 restrictions with Santa Fe's Stage 3 level Las Vegas has it bad but Santa Fe is up Shit’s creek with no need for a paddle. Las Vegas' restrictions are tougher with fines, eventhough Santa Fe’s are more serious. Las Vegas city warns violators once, then fine them $125 for the second violation. Wah your car can cost you $125.00 if you do it yourself or $10.00 if the WashGuys do it. If you get a third violation the city turns off the user's taps. Ouch. http://www.water.com Http://www.conservewater.com Santa Fe fines begin at $20 for the first violation and could escalate to $200 beyond the fourth violation. Santa Fe's restrictions merely state: "Water service may be suspended for repeat violators." Las Vegas, NM' year-round rules of water conservation also have helped the population there brace for the worst and the worst is coming before it gets any better. Today an interesting article on MSN.com http://weather.nmsu.edu/drought/MUNGP2.htm ----- http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/calendar.html -------- http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/h2o-hottop15.html ------ Well I can tell you that we are challenged more than you think. Droughts are serious in many regions of the United States: Statewide water use restrictions went into effect last month in Georgia. Wheat farmers in Nebraska are predicting drastically reduced yields, and wildfires have scorched thousands of dry acres in Florida, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Farmers are currently suffering the worst drought conditions in GA’s states history, they will probably ask for damage assessment reports by county to get federal disaster aid. Is it that bad? Yes it is and it will get worse, unless they get a few hurricane type, tropical depressions moving through the state. The state has already imposed restrictions in the 15-county Atlanta metropolitan area that limit the days and hours when residents can water lawns or wash cars. Similar measures go into effect across the state next week. Again we are The Car Wash Guys and we are fully fucking into this and we will be on top of this issue and we will win it. South Shore in northeastern Kentucky have also been asked to cut back on lawn sprinklers and car washes. In Kentucky, 34 water Districts and Municipal water companies have water conservation measures already in place. Last month Kentucky's bluegrass region slipped into the severe drought category on the Palmer Drought Index, which is released weekly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.noaa.gov/ ----------- They are watching this closely http://www.strategic.noaa.gov/ ------- The central and eastern regions of Kentucky are not far behind. They will soon also be on the list. I predict a lot of systems are going to have to go on water conservation. A lot of people are going to have to stop washing cars and watering their lawns and that kind of thing in Kentucky. -------------------------- Farmers fear for crops, here is why we have given the aid we did. The water restrictions in Georgia are causing concern among peanut farmers that state officials will also limit their use of irrigation systems, just as their crops reach a stage where having adequate water is critical. Of course Jimmy Carter a peanut farmer has some clout too you know. Peanuts which are very important need moisture desperately, especially those (crops) that were planted early----------- In Nebraska, temperatures topping 100 degrees combined with gusty winds and little or no rain have taken a heavy toll on the wheat crop. And if you look a todays weather they are getting pummeled by thunderstorms. As a result, some farmers started two weeks early on their winter wheat harvests, which are predicted to yield only about half what they did last year. The summer wheat if not planet in time will be washed away in some areas. This might be the worst yield in 50 years. Iowa, average precipitation so far this year is only about half what it was this time last year, corn in southern and western Iowa is going to be an issue in plastics, food, and ethanol, in Texas, not even recent heavy rains that caused flooding in some parts of the state were enough to end its drought. The rain will help establish crops during the planting season, but there's not enough moisture to sustain them for long, if it were not for this weeks weather they would have had a near disaster on their hands. We have to thank the rain makers and scientists for their due diligence and techonolgy. Too bad about the Arkansas barge that could not see in the bad weather collapsing the bridge, we are really going to have to work on this cloud making experiment a little. Many Rivers and reservoirs run shallow, for instance in mountain states such as Montana are also feeling the pinch, we have a former employee there who is the premiere fly fishing instructor of the Yellow Stone Park area. The river are slow due to the light snowfall over the winter. Montana's snow pack is now all but gone from the mountains and the state needs above-normal rainfall to avoid drought. The forecast holds little promise of improvement. Southwest and central Montana face severe drought while south-central, north-central and southeast areas can expect moderate drought. The northwest is the only area of Montana not in a drought. The biggest fear is going to be summer fires. Streamflows measured by the U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/ ---- http://mn.water.usgs.gov/wrd/stream.html ------ at eight key locations indicate the rivers carried only 79 percent of the normal water in May. Nine federal reservoirs in Montana hold only about 90 percent of the normal water for this time of year and only one is expected to fill this year. State-owned reservoirs on June 1 held only 88 percent of the water typical for that date. This is not as bad as it sounds however this is two month old data and levels which get no rain only go down as the melting snow was so light that most just soaked into the ground with little runoff. Not good. The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said the dry conditions are a bad sign for wildfires. http://water.montana.edu/default.asp ----- http://www.dnrc.state.mt.us/ --------------------- http://www.stateforesters.org/SFlinks.html ------- Right now, they are all forecasting a real active fire season, Many other states -- including Florida, Colorado and New Mexico -- have already experienced active fire seasons this year because of the dry conditions. Colorado last week battled two wildfires that have burned thousands of acres and forced the evacuation of about 1,000 people from their homes. http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/06/13/wildfires.01/index.html -------- http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/06/12/wildfires.01/ ----- Florida worst droughts in that state's history has lasted for four years, the region has seen below-normal rainfall levels, and 2000 ranked as Florida's driest year on record. The conditions have continued into 2001, and state emergency officials are worried about Florida's diminishing water supply. The rainy season does not begin for another still has not done enough. The population of Florida has more than tripled in the last 40 years. The record-high number of people is straining the record-low water supply, prompting widespread water restrictions over the last several months. Lawn watering and car washing are limited to one or two days a week in many counties, and even on those days, residents are permitted to water only during certain hours — generally nearly all of the state is affected by the drought, with central Florida experiencing the driest conditions. Storms that passed through the state last month have provided some short-term relief, but experts say that much more rainfall is needed. Part of the problem, ironically, is that flood-protection systems are designed to funnel rainwater into the Atlantic Ocean during a storm. This effective network of canals diverted about 2.6 billion gallons of rain into the ocean after a massive rainstorm hit the state on March 19, instead of allowing it to seep into the parched earth. Too many people living on a sand bar, it is just stupid and what will Janet Reno do to fix it? Nothing, maybe here abortion views may mean less people, but liberal programs cause more babies, oh hell it is a toos up, it doesn’t matter anyway. Florida is in deep do do and they know and now you know it. God help Mickey Mouse at Disney World. In a typical year, Florida's worst natural disasters are hurricanes, and most of the permanent disaster-preparedness tools in place are geared toward dealing with excess water not no water. State and federal emergency management officials are trying to revamp the agency that handles this; http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/010323floridadrought/ , Florida. Gov. Jeb Bush, met in Tallahassee on March 23 to work on a plan of action — response to the drought and set up the "Florida Drought Emergency Partnership" and guess what? They are already talking about worse case scenarios and whether or not they will need help from the federal government. And if so how much help. But before you bad mouth Florida, if this were a Hurricane type situation they definitely have their shit together, this is the opposite and very unexpected. Officials are considering a plan to bring in water desalination plants to supply drinking water. These portable systems, purchased through outside vendors, would be capable of turning the salt water that surrounds the state into drinkable water. And what about water to fight fires? There were over 1700 fires as of March 1, 2002 already in the year and the biggies have not hit yet, evry year they get their share. Farmers in FL are also hampered by the 4 yr. drought. The Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, http://www.nass.usda.gov/fl/ has more date for you if your are interested. the drought has cost the state's farmers and ranchers some $574 million in losses over the last four years including the raches owned by the Mormon Church in central FL, and they are highly politically connected. Last year, the federal government declared 23 counties to be agricultural disaster areas, can Fl get into the mix this year? Well they seem to have been able to get a bit of help with subsidies, but that ain’t going to be nearly enough. The lack of rain has been hardest on field crops, including corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and hay. Timber growers report that 20 percent of newly planted pine trees are failing to take root because of the drought. Cattle farmers are dealing with poor pasture conditions, and the condition of cattle statewide is "poor to fair," the Agricultural Statistics Service web site says. Water levels in the Everglades are two feet below normal, hurting the many wildlife species that typically flourish in the swampy area. With fish and minnows dying, adult alligators will soon be forced to eat baby gators.. Apple snails, a primary food source for the endangered snail kite, are also dying off. You basic eco nightmare and food chain depletion. More info, Lance does not know what the hell he is talking about , sure here is the data for you; http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/ever101.htm --------------- http://www.responsibletravel.com/Copy/Copy100447.htm --------- http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/coopext/FLlifestyle.htm ------- http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/travel/1338537 -------- Officials are considering a plan to bring in water desalination plants to supply drinking water. These portable systems, purchased through outside vendors, would be capable of turning the salt water that surrounds the state into drinkable water. The best possible worlds would be each county with their own RSD Plant, however Tampa has completed their project even after nearly bankrupting the NJ Based entrepreneur who won the contract due to Sierra Club Law Suits, such BS, read the Business Side of Government by Smoot. http://www.tampabaywater.org/WEB/Htm/News/news-item28.htm ------ http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/water/water-recycling/archives/msg05163.html ------ http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/guide/desal.html ------------ http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:NkuysotnfdQC:www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/news82.pdf+desalination+plant+project+Tampa+FL+Business+Journal&hl=en&ie=UTF8 --------------------------------- So you think the drought is a minor problem? Not so, check out Maryland, they are in a bad situation too; www.gov.state.md.us Here is what they had to say: Copied from the web site and article in the Maryland Newspaper:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOVERNOR GLENDENING ENACTS MANDATORY STATEWIDE WATER USAGE RESTRICTIONS TO ADDRESS DROUGHT ------ Measures to Take Effect Immediately and Include Ban on Open Burning------ ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 4, 1999) Seeking to conserve dwindling water supplies resulting from Maryland's worst drought since the 1930s, Governor Parris N. Glendening today placed mandatory restrictions on water usage throughout the State. After studying the recommendations of his Drought Emergency Coordinating Committee, Governor Glendening released an Executive Order which requires all Marylanders to limit their water use. The mandatory restrictions replace voluntary measures which the Governor had implemented last week, and take effect on a statewide basis immediately. "This drought has devastated Maryland's water supply, drying up rivers, streams, and reservoirs," said Governor Glendening. "We must act responsibly now to contain this problem before it gets out of hand. These restrictions are simple, common sense, mandatory steps that everyone must take to help us conserve water. If each person does his or her part, we can work through this problem." The full set of water restrictions, as well as restrictions on outside burning, are attached to this release. "The more responsible we are today, the easier it will be for everyone in the coming weeks," said Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. "We are calling upon Maryland's great tradition of shared sacrifice in times of trouble and asking our citizens to go beyond the restrictions to conserve water any way they can." -------- Last week, the Governor declared the first statewide drought emergency in Maryland's history. At the time, the Governor enacted voluntary restrictions, and appointed a Drought Emergency Coordinating Committee, chaired by Environmental Secretary Jane Nishida, to study the drought and make recommendations to him about implementing mandatory water conservation measures. ---- The Committee released its report on Tuesday, concluding that drought conditions were so dire that the Governor ought to enact mandatory measures immediately. After studying the report, the Governor released his Executive Order, which implemented the Committee's recommendations. --- "Moving from voluntary to mandatory restrictions was not an arbitrary decision," Governor Glendening said. "After reviewing the Committee's report, I have determined that this drought is so severe that we cannot solve this problem by voluntary restrictions alone." ----- The Governor's Executive Order requires that every Marylander conserve water by eliminating nearly all outdoor water use. The measures apply to all individuals, businesses, and governments in every jurisdiction. In addition, the measures apply to all citizens regardless of whether they use public water systems or wells. ------- The Executive Order authorizes local law enforcement authorities to penalize people who violate the restrictions. Penalties can range from a warning for the first offense to a maximum of a $1,000 fine. ------- "These are tough restrictions, but we will be reasonable and fair," the Governor said. "The Executive Order gives local authorities the discretion to grant exceptions for extreme hardship cases. And, we have set aside $250,000 in grants to help seniors and those with lower-incomes save water by buying water-conserving shower heads and repairing leaky faucets." ------ The Governor also announced that the State will provide comprehensive information on what people may or may not do to conserve water. For information regarding the drought, Marylanders can call the Department of Environment's toll-free hotline at 1-877-4- DROUGHT (1-877-437-6844), or check the Governor's web page at www.gov.state.md.us and click on drought information. --------- This concludes my research for today Part I, 458 pages left to review and will have time tonight. We had an idea to help awareness, of the drought and we have been emailing this to many organizations and government agencies. You are welcome to this information. We wrote a book on car wash fundraisers and you may find that chapter II helps since it deals with environmental issues of wash water run-off, but even more important Water conservation. -------- http://www.carwashguys.com/fundraisers/LAschools.html ---------- If we help the kids do these fundraiser we can wash with as little as 2.4 gallons per car. ------ I thought everyone might like to know that we at the Car Wash Guys http://www.carwashguy.com are also very concerned and working on real solutions to real problems. We have used this book as a way for kids to do fundraisers and to help conserve water. Otherwise there will not be any left. Every car that comes through the fundraiser can get a water conservation handout. These are just ideas to help. -------------------------- Why would we bother trying to help people and cities around the country with our, well here is the answer. If you study the locations of cities they are along rivers usually and there are many rivers which are running out of water, here are waters being used for massive water needs of people, these are also being hurt ecologically. Ecologically these are the endangered US rivers------- The American Rivers 20 Most Endangered Rivers in the United States; 1. Columbia River, Hanford Reach (Washington) 2. Missouri River (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) 3. Pocomoke River (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) 4. Kern River (California) 5. Blackfoot River (Montana) 6. Colorado River Delta (Mexico: Baja California, Sonora) 7. Chattahoochee River (Georgia, Alabama, Florida) 8. Lower Snake River (Washington) 9. Apple River (Wisconsin, Illinois) 10. Pinto Creek (Arizona) 11. Wolf River (Wisconsin) 12. Potomac River (West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia) 13. Rogue/Illinois River System (including Elk Creek and Rough & Ready Creek) (Oregon) 14. Taku River (British Columbia, Alaska) 15. Crooked Creek (Arkansas) 16. Passaic River (New Jersey) 17. Mattaponi River (Virginia) 18. Walla Walla River (Oregon, Washington) 19. Uinta River (Utah) 20. Kansas River (Kansas) For full information on each stream visit http://www.amrivers.org and check the endangered rivers list. ----------------------------------------------- Last year after 9-11 Governor Tom Ridge of PA ended the drought in PA. Then took the job in Washington as Security Director. The drought was very necessary and very short from July 30 to September 30, but it was very real and very bad. Lifting drought emergency helped commerce resume in 54 counties on water use everywhere except Somerset County. The Governor continued to ask Pennsylvanians to conserve, help prevent future drought emergencies. He also called for Congress for farm aid, he stated that: ‘While the drought is over, the damage isn’t’ Pennsylvania was asked to cut 35% and they did. The farmers of PA lost 700 million and were able to get some aid, but not nearly enough. Tom was a proponent of the Farm Aid bill recently in the Senate as well. We know what farmers are going through. --------------http://www.tractorwashguys.com/agriculture.shtml ----------------------- Tom Ridge did an interesting thing after that he left 27 counties in a drought watch, After the Governor signed the proclamation today, he directed Department of Environmental Protection Secretary James M. Seif to move 27 counties into a drought warning and 39 counties into a watch. A drought watch is the first and least severe of the three drought declarations under the state's drought-operating plan. It calls for a voluntary 5 percent reduction of nonessential water use. A drought warning, the second stage of the three drought declarations, calls for a 10 percent voluntary reduction in water consumption. A drought emergency, the third and most severe stage, imposes mandatory restrictions on water use. Not a bad idea really. The question will be when El Nino and La Nina occur in the next two years. Today there is no problem, however there will be in a few months if the Watch Program is not met, things will get worse. The latest drought information including precipitation tables and water-conservation tips are available on the Pennsylvania homepage at http://www.state.pa.us or directly at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Subjects/Water Management/Drought). San Antonio went from a Drought restriction level ! to a drought warning level one, same thing. San Marcos TX is having a war with Vivtoria TX on the same river asking them to conserve, but Vitoria needs the water not for drinking but for Dupont, their major employer, if the Dupont factory closes, we are having a problem. Austin TX is upriver and lots of water now, but the entire area is growing and water is going to be a problem there too. We may have two years of more problems which could put Austin in the same boat as Laredo and El Paso. See these web sites: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wtxrain.htm -------------- Oh indcidentally if anyone ever has the notion that I am making any of this up just because I do not put up a lik or tell you of my references, ditch that notion, this is the unclassified stuff in our research. ----------------------------- In South Carolina they have made a State wide operations manual and sample ordinance for all their cities and counties. Write to sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us for more information. If you would like to view the actual ordinance it is actually very comprehensive and may help evry one understand where the Car Wash Guys maybe in the future when dealing with droughts or drought ridden areas. ----http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/drought/drought_resp_ord.html ----------------------------- They have a drought phase list as the water levels go down, they include as definitions the following; ------------ Moderate Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches the -1.50 to -2.99 range and moderate drought conditions have been verified by best available information, and conditions indicate this situation is expected to persist. ------------------------- Severe Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches the -3.00 to -3.99 range and severe drought conditions have been verified by best available information. -----Extreme Drought: when the Palmer Index reaches or falls below -4.00 and extreme drought conditions are verified by best available information. -------- So now you wish to know what the Plamer index is right? Well here it is, but really you should know what it is already after all for human beings water is life right, well almost. http://enso.unl.edu/ndmc/enigma/indices.htm Now wher do we really stand? And remembering the data changes when? Constantly, there is always rain somewhere, or some large watr user using it, or a fire requiring it or a hydro-electric plant needing it. Or a facotry using it, or a farmer watering. Or you think you need to run your jacuzzi or wash your car. It changes every day, this is serious. --------------- http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html ------------- Palmer Index: a measure of the severity of a drought, or a wet spell, in an area. Dry conditions with positive values, and normal conditions have a value of zero. ------------------- They discuss Essential water uses: water used specificaly for fire fighting, maintaining instream flow requirements, and to satisfy federal, state, of local public health and safety requirements. And non essential too. Non-essential water use categories, other than essential water use, may be curtailed during severe or extreme drought. Some examples of non-essential water uses follows: for Residential uses they feel these uses a problem: 1. Washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surface areas. 2. Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection. 3. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street. 4. Washing any motor bike, motor vehicle, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle in public or private garages or elsewhere. 5. Maintaining fountains, reflection ponds, and decorative water bodies for aesthetic or scenic purposes, except where necessary to support aquatic life. 6. Filling or maintaining public or private swimming pools. 7. Sprinkling lawns, plants, trees, and other flora on private or public property, except as otherwise provided under the Ordinance. Now in South Carolina they also have what they consider non essential uses. Commercial and Industrial: 1. Serving water routinely in restaurants. 2. Increasing water levels in scenic and recreational ponds and lakes, except for the minimum amount required to support fish and wildlife. 3. Irrigating golf courses and any portion of its grounds, except as otherwise provided under this Ordinance. 4. Obtaining water from hydrants for construction purposes, fire drills, or for any purpose other than firefighting. 5. Serving customers who have been given a 10 day notice to repair one or more leaks and has failed to comply. 6. Expanding commercial nursery facilities, placing new irrigated agricultural land in production, or planting or landscaping when required by site design review process. In a moderate drought like Tom Ridges program they escalate the requirements; A. Moderate Drought Alert Phase: If conditions indicate that a moderate drought condition is present and is expected to persist, the SC Department of Natural Resources shall activate the Drought Information Center and notify municipal and county governments in the affected drought areas by certified mail. The Department will also issue press releases concerning the drought conditions to the news media. 1. Goal: (a) A fifteen percent voluntary water use reduction for agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional, and electric power generation purposes. (b) A thirty percent voluntary water use reduction for residential customers. Here is what they will limit first; 3. Water-Use Restrictions: (a) Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock: * Implement conservation techniques, explore different water saving methods, and use alternative sources. (b) Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional: *Reduce aesthetic, domestic, landscaping, and water-based recreational activities such as swimming pools, water slides, and other related water activities. (c) Electric Power Generation (d) Residential: * Reduce water use to seventy-five gallons per person per day, and a maximum of 300 gallons per household per day. * Reduce domestic, landscaping, and water-based recreational activities such as swimming pools, water slides, and other related water activities. After this we get a more severe restriction and more escalation and mandatory information. At severe droughts they restrict people to 220 gallons a day for the family and a maximum of 55 gallons a day per person. They are not only dead serious about this but get ready for it, they are going to use this ordinance starting summer, if they do not get the rain levels up. ----------------------------- Back in June of 2000 we had a problem if you will recall. Drought was withering crops and causing dangerous fire-prone conditions across the nation. If substantial rain did not fall soon, farmers would face severe hardship. Guess what rain didn’t come. In San Antonio down to Mc Allen TX they have eight years of it. You even had Enron trading yes you guessed it Water Futures. The drought extended from South Carolina through Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Gulf Coast Louisiana, and Texas, and throughout the west as well. In Mississippi, corn farmers are praying for rain, remember they are in the Bible Belt, but let me tell you their were others praying for the Rain God too. Their corn was going into the pollination stages and they're worried about proper pollination. In many states, drought conditions had exacerbated wildfires, creating high-risk living conditions for residents. New wildfires started in states stretching from Arizona to Florida. Florida residents -- accustomed to hot, dry weather -- were surprised and alarmed. Big drought, what’s that, why, don’t worry we will have a Hurricane. Now we see that doesn’t help. Northern Florida's hay crop is already badly damaged this year again, forcing ranchers to buy hay from other states at higher prices. We learned in 2000 that in Georgia, almost 5,000 acres burned in the most recent Georgia fire. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Georgia has posted in 2000 the driest May this year since 1895. Well they expect this year to be worse. http://www2.state.ga.us/GEMA/ ---- Even FEMA recogniztes that not only can very dry states burn, so can very green states, states like OR, WI, GA, LA, CO, CA, KY, etc. ---------------------------- Wildfires in 2000 also burning in Michigan, where 40 homes in the northern part of the state were evacuated after a controlled burn on land spread to 400 acres. Another fire in southern Nevada had scorched more than 2,000 acres and many Homes. And, after one of the warmest winters on record, federal officials have declared drought conditions in New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana in 2000. New Mexico has already fought the huge Los Alamos fire and several others, remember? Well here we go again, this time they are ready. Urban and rural residents alike are being affected by the drought. In 2000 Atlanta, the state had imposed tough water restrictions for the first time in 12 years. Well it is still going on today. In Texas, the Rev. Chuck DeHaven, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, said that rural residents were traveling to cities and towns to get water because their wells had run dry in 2000, we remember this as Trey our franchisee who lives there told us of other stories. The drought hit parts of Texas just as other areas are completing recovery from severe flash flooding in October 1998 that killed 31 people and left thousands homeless throughout southwestern Texas. The ecumenical networks put into place after that disaster could help respond to drought, In 2000 Alabama state officials called out the National Guard to dispense drinking water in towns where wells are in danger of running dry In 2000, across the Southeast, crops were withering, and farmers sent cattle to slaughter because there is nothing for them to eat. In South Carolina, farmers had stopped planting cotton and soybeans. Peanut farmers in Georgia report they are losing their corn and peanut crops as well. Most scientists believed the drought of 2000 was a result of La Nina, the cooling phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that has produced warmer winters and drier-than-normal conditions in the Southeast. Well here it comes again, this time they are already down. In 2000 forecasters predicted that above-normal temperatures would continue in the South and the Midwest, and that severe drought conditions which would persist in much of the South. Forecasters also predicted the Midwest would also suffer, particularly Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana. These were among the states hardest hit by the eight-year "Dustbowl" drought in the 1930s -- the worst in U.S. history. Guess what they were right and guess what else, the same conditions now exist. The Southeast has been in drought conditions for nearly five to eight years, leaving some areas with rainfall deficits of more than 45-82 inches. So what does all this mean today? It means unless we figure out a way to make rain without flooding the regions we are in for some much bigger than problems before. It also means the The Car Wash Guys are filing for a logo and trademark “The Water Guys” Here are some stories we found recently; USDA Emergency Designation News Releases (March 16 - April 8, 2002). Eight Virginia counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, April 12, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named eight counties in Virginia as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred last year. -----Veneman designates Montana as drought disaster area: BOZEMAN, Mont., March 28, 2002---- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today designated the entire State of Montana as a drought disaster area. This designation makes Montana farmers and ranchers immediately eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought this year. ------Sixteen Maine counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, March 13, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named 16 counties in Maine as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred last year… Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York counties were named as primary disaster areas on March 11, 2002. Also eligible, because it is contiguous, is Franklin County. ---------Drought related News:------ El Nino May Be Blunted by N.Pacific Weather System, Rene Pastor, Reuters Limited and Yahoo! Inc., March 25,2002 ----------- Record warmth intensified drought, say experts: [According to the experts, record warmth between November 2001 and January 2002 is at least partly to blame for the moderate to extreme drought plaguing 15 states from Georgia to Maine and 14 states in the Plains and West.], Lucas J. Mire, weather.com, Yahoo Inc., March 18,2002 ------ Coming rains not enough to quench drought, Randolph E. Schmid, the Associated Press and weather.com, March 14, 2002 ------- Plains states torn limb from limb, Debbie Howlett, USA TODAY, March 5, 2002 ------- Drought Grips Much of Country, Associated Press and Northernlight Inc., March 02, 2002------- U.S. Drought outlook-------- The Drought Monitor issued on April 11, 2002 indicated that "... Forecasted weather features that may impact abnormally dry or drought areas during the next 5 days (April 11-15) include: 1) A stalled cold front across the southern Atlantic Coast states that may bring scattered showers to most of the Southeast; 2) A fast-moving Pacific storm system should produce unsettled weather from the Pacific Northwest eastward to the upper Midwest; 3) By the weekend, the Pacific storm system is forecast to slow, and combined with ample Gulf and Atlantic moisture, trigger scattered, mostly light showers across the eastern half of the Nation; 4) Unfortunately, it is predicted to remain dry and warm across the Southwest. The NWS 6-10 day (April 16-20) outlook calls for above-normal precipitation in the east-central United States, from northeastern Texas northward into western Great Lakes region, and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Below-normal precipitation is expected for the Far West, Southwest, Florida, and interior Alaska. The Aleutians, Southwest, and the eastern half of the country may experience seasonable to above-normal temperatures, with cooler than normal weather for the northwestern quarter of the Nation and eastern Alaska."----- These are just some of the stories we have collected and have been reviewing as well as the web sites and charts. Also several Emergency Declarations; Emergency declarations: ---Four California counties eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, March 11, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named four counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by freezing temperatures that occurred last year… Tehama County was named as a primary disaster area on March 1, 2002. Also eligible, because they are contiguous, are Mendocino, Shasta and Trinity counties. ----- Twelve counties in California eligible for USDA emergency Farm loans: WASHINGTON, September 25, 2001-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today named 12 counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency (EM) farm loans due to losses caused by a severe weather earlier this year. -------- Seven counties in California eligible for USDA emergency Farm loans: WASHINGTON, June 26, 2001--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today named seven counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency (EM) farm loans due to losses caused by windstorms that occurred on March 3 and March 4, 2001. Butte County was named as a primary disaster area on June 25, 2001. Also eligible because they are contiguous, are Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba Counties. ---------------- Seven counties in California eligible for USDA emergency farm loans: WASHINGTON, June 14, 2001 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today named seven counties in California as eligible for USDA emergency farm loans due to losses caused by drought that occurred November 1, 2000. Modoc and Siskiyou Counties were named as primary disaster areas on June 14, 2001. Also eligible, because they are contiguous, are Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Shasta, and Trinity Counties.------------------------- WashGuys are ready to deliver water if we cannot wash cars, we are ready to help America and our franchisees. WashGuys Water Company, coming to a city near you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Regarding the drought and the developments and challenges ahead. Santa Fe NM as we previously stated is in a world of hurt and they are seriously figuring they will actually run out of water this year sometime. I doubt it, we are in El Nino coming up and the rainy season next year will fill it all up again. Over course we are talking Level three water restrictions and four by Sept. Oct. In other words Car Wash Guys maybe delivering water instead of washing cars. We had previously talked to a scientist from Los Alamos earlier this year a few months ago, who had pre warned us exactly how bad it is there. I wonder if that is why the Canyon DeShea Indians left the area? No water, could this be cyclical over 1000 years ago? --------------- Residents and businesses in Las Vegas, NM also, were asked last month to tighten their water taps even further. City officials declared Stage 2 restrictions -- comparable, Las Vegas NM water utility director said, to Santa Fe's Stage 3 drought restrictions -- to keep Las Vegas' water storage supply healthy during the coming, even more dry months. The city's water storage is at 85 percent of capacity. Evaporation could cut into that amount without more rainfall. They already saw the best of the spring runoff and some of the numbers are the same or lower than the drought of 2000, which sucked. Although they have been able to capitalize a little bit on our storage, I guess no one told them to put a giant pool cover over the water supply like they do on Strawberry fields in CA to prevent moisture from escaping. You know the scientists should know this about agriculture methods. The Stage 2 restrictions clamp down on outside water use, including a limit for residents and businesses to water only once a week before between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Those with even-numbered addresses may water on Monday; those with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays. This means do not wash your car either or get a fine from the water police and don’t think they will not do it either. There will be no car washing at home, and commercial car washes have been restricted to operating only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Yes there are other restrictions such as; No private pools, spas or hot tubs can be filled with city-provided water; the indoor pools operated by the city and New Mexico Highlands University are exempt for now until level three. Water can be served only at the request of the customer at restaurants, big deal more awareness than anything. Ornamental fountains without re-circulating systems must be turned off; re-circulating fountains must be turned off during windy days., good idea I guess, there are quite a few water features in the town of Santa Fe for tourists. One car wash owner we talked to in Las Vegas, NM, said his self-serve car wash business is likely to suffer a loss of 50 percent in business because of the water use restrictions. The water flow is down, and there's nothing in the Gallinas River, it is basically nearly totally dry now. We looked at the river and you could not navagate any more that an inner tube down it, possibly a row boat if you did not mind getting stuck and getting out in knee deep water to push it over the sand bars and rocks once ever 200 yards or so. We see where the needs are for more than washing cars, however we can import the water and wash cars with it and not be restricted, we may do this and you can have anything washed by us http://www.ewashguy.com The commercial car wash in Las Vegas, NM called Water Works, which also has a location in Colorado Springs Downtown will also suffer even though it claims it reclaims about 90 percent of the water it uses. These restrictions implemented thus far under level two drought restrictions hope to conserve 500,000 to 800,000 gallons a day from the city's average daily use of 2.3 million gallons. Which is nearly equal to the total flow of the Gallinas River, which had a flow of 2.7 million gallons. The city next door is also battling for their share, and the water wars have begun with the Acequia Water Association. restrictions seriously. Neighbors call in reports about other neighbors, who get wash their cars in the drive way or run the lawn sprinklers. Comparing Las Vegas' Stage 2 restrictions with Santa Fe's Stage 3 level Las Vegas has it bad but Santa Fe is up Shit’s creek with no need for a paddle. Las Vegas' restrictions are tougher with fines, eventhough Santa Fe’s are more serious. Las Vegas city warns violators once, then fine them $125 for the second violation. Wah your car can cost you $125.00 if you do it yourself or $10.00 if the WashGuys do it. If you get a third violation the city turns off the user's taps. Ouch. http://www.water.com Http://www.conservewater.com Santa Fe fines begin at $20 for the first violation and could escalate to $200 beyond the fourth violation. Santa Fe's restrictions merely state: "Water service may be suspended for repeat violators." Las Vegas, NM' year-round rules of water conservation also have helped the population there brace for the worst and the worst is coming before it gets any better. Today an interesting article on MSN.com http://weather.nmsu.edu/drought/MUNGP2.htm ----- http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/calendar.html -------- http://www.seo.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/h2o-hottop15.html ------ Well I can tell you that we are challenged more than you think. Droughts are serious in many regions of the United States: Statewide water use restrictions went into effect last month in Georgia. Wheat farmers in Nebraska are predicting drastically reduced yields, and wildfires have scorched thousands of dry acres in Florida, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Farmers are currently suffering the worst drought conditions in GA’s states history, they will probably ask for damage assessment reports by county to get federal disaster aid. Is it that bad? Yes it is and it will get worse, unless they get a few hurricane type, tropical depressions moving through the state. The state has already imposed restrictions in the 15-county Atlanta metropolitan area that limit the days and hours when residents can water lawns or wash cars. Similar measures go into effect across the state next week. Again we are The Car Wash Guys and we are fully fucking into this and we will be on top of this issue and we will win it. South Shore in northeastern Kentucky have also been asked to cut back on lawn sprinklers and car washes. In Kentucky, 34 water Districts and Municipal water companies have water conservation measures already in place. Last month Kentucky's bluegrass region slipped into the severe drought category on the Palmer Drought Index, which is released weekly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.noaa.gov/ ----------- They are watching this closely http://www.strategic.noaa.gov/ ------- The central and eastern regions of Kentucky are not far behind. They will soon also be on the list. I predict a lot of systems are going to have to go on water conservation. A lot of people are going to have to stop washing cars and watering their lawns and that kind of thing in Kentucky. -------------------------- Farmers fear for crops, here is why we have given the aid we did. The water restrictions in Georgia are causing concern among peanut farmers that state officials will also limit their use of irrigation systems, just as their crops reach a stage where having adequate water is critical. Of course Jimmy Carter a peanut farmer has some clout too you know. Peanuts which are very important need moisture desperately, especially those (crops) that were planted early----------- In Nebraska, temperatures topping 100 degrees combined with gusty winds and little or no rain have taken a heavy toll on the wheat crop. And if you look a todays weather they are getting pummeled by thunderstorms. As a result, some farmers started two weeks early on their winter wheat harvests, which are predicted to yield only about half what they did last year. The summer wheat if not planet in time will be washed away in some areas. This might be the worst yield in 50 years. Iowa, average precipitation so far this year is only about half what it was this time last year, corn in southern and western Iowa is going to be an issue in plastics, food, and ethanol, in Texas, not even recent heavy rains that caused flooding in some parts of the state were enough to end its drought. The rain will help establish crops during the planting season, but there's not enough moisture to sustain them for long, if it were not for this weeks weather they would have had a near disaster on their hands. We have to thank the rain makers and scientists for their due diligence and techonolgy. Too bad about the Arkansas barge that could not see in the bad weather collapsing the bridge, we are really going to have to work on this cloud making experiment a little. Many Rivers and reservoirs run shallow, for instance in mountain states such as Montana are also feeling the pinch, we have a former employee there who is the premiere fly fishing instructor of the Yellow Stone Park area. The river are slow due to the light snowfall over the winter. Montana's snow pack is now all but gone from the mountains and the state needs above-normal rainfall to avoid drought. The forecast holds little promise of improvement. Southwest and central Montana face severe drought while south-central, north-central and southeast areas can expect moderate drought. The northwest is the only area of Montana not in a drought. The biggest fear is going to be summer fires. Streamflows measured by the U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/ ---- http://mn.water.usgs.gov/wrd/stream.html ------ at eight key locations indicate the rivers carried only 79 percent of the normal water in May. Nine federal reservoirs in Montana hold only about 90 percent of the normal water for this time of year and only one is expected to fill this year. State-owned reservoirs on June 1 held only 88 percent of the water typical for that date. This is not as bad as it sounds however this is two month old data and levels which get no rain only go down as the melting snow was so light that most just soaked into the ground with little runoff. Not good. The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said the dry conditions are a bad sign for wildfires. http://water.montana.edu/default.asp ----- http://www.dnrc.state.mt.us/ --------------------- http://www.stateforesters.org/SFlinks.html ------- Right now, they are all forecasting a real active fire season, Many other states -- including Florida, Colorado and New Mexico -- have already experienced active fire seasons this year because of the dry conditions. Colorado last week battled two wildfires that have burned thousands of acres and forced the evacuation of about 1,000 people from their homes. http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/06/13/wildfires.01/index.html -------- http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/06/12/wildfires.01/ ----- Florida worst droughts in that state's history has lasted for four years, the region has seen below-normal rainfall levels, and 2000 ranked as Florida's driest year on record. The conditions have continued into 2001, and state emergency officials are worried about Florida's diminishing water supply. The rainy season does not begin for another still has not done enough. The population of Florida has more than tripled in the last 40 years. The record-high number of people is straining the record-low water supply, prompting widespread water restrictions over the last several months. Lawn watering and car washing are limited to one or two days a week in many counties, and even on those days, residents are permitted to water only during certain hours — generally nearly all of the state is affected by the drought, with central Florida experiencing the driest conditions. Storms that passed through the state last month have provided some short-term relief, but experts say that much more rainfall is needed. Part of the problem, ironically, is that flood-protection systems are designed to funnel rainwater into the Atlantic Ocean during a storm. This effective network of canals diverted about 2.6 billion gallons of rain into the ocean after a massive rainstorm hit the state on March 19, instead of allowing it to seep into the parched earth. Too many people living on a sand bar, it is just stupid and what will Janet Reno do to fix it? Nothing, maybe here abortion views may mean less people, but liberal programs cause more babies, oh hell it is a toos up, it doesn’t matter anyway. Florida is in deep do do and they know and now you know it. God help Mickey Mouse at Disney World. In a typical year, Florida's worst natural disasters are hurricanes, and most of the permanent disaster-preparedness tools in place are geared toward dealing with excess water not no water. State and federal emergency management officials are trying to revamp the agency that handles this; http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/010323floridadrought/ , Florida. Gov. Jeb Bush, met in Tallahassee on March 23 to work on a plan of action — response to the drought and set up the "Florida Drought Emergency Partnership" and guess what? They are already talking about worse case scenarios and whether or not they will need help from the federal government. And if so how much help. But before you bad mouth Florida, if this were a Hurricane type situation they definitely have their shit together, this is the opposite and very unexpected. Officials are considering a plan to bring in water desalination plants to supply drinking water. These portable systems, purchased through outside vendors, would be capable of turning the salt water that surrounds the state into drinkable water. And what about water to fight fires? There were over 1700 fires as of March 1, 2002 already in the year and the biggies have not hit yet, evry year they get their share. Farmers in FL are also hampered by the 4 yr. drought. The Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, http://www.nass.usda.gov/fl/ has more date for you if your are interested. the drought has cost the state's farmers and ranchers some $574 million in losses over the last four years including the raches owned by the Mormon Church in central FL, and they are highly politically connected. Last year, the federal government declared 23 counties to be agricultural disaster areas, can Fl get into the mix this year? Well they seem to have been able to get a bit of help with subsidies, but that ain’t going to be nearly enough. The lack of rain has been hardest on field crops, including corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and hay. Timber growers report that 20 percent of newly planted pine trees are failing to take root because of the drought. Cattle farmers are dealing with poor pasture conditions, and the condition of cattle statewide is "poor to fair," the Agricultural Statistics Service web site says. Water levels in the Everglades are two feet below normal, hurting the many wildlife species that typically flourish in the swampy area. With fish and minnows dying, adult alligators will soon be forced to eat baby gators.. Apple snails, a primary food source for the endangered snail kite, are also dying off. You basic eco nightmare and food chain depletion. More info, Lance does not know what the hell he is talking about , sure here is the data for you; http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/ever101.htm --------------- http://www.responsibletravel.com/Copy/Copy100447.htm --------- http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/coopext/FLlifestyle.htm ------- http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/travel/1338537 -------- Officials are considering a plan to bring in water desalination plants to supply drinking water. These portable systems, purchased through outside vendors, would be capable of turning the salt water that surrounds the state into drinkable water. The best possible worlds would be each county with their own RSD Plant, however Tampa has completed their project even after nearly bankrupting the NJ Based entrepreneur who won the contract due to Sierra Club Law Suits, such BS, read the Business Side of Government by Smoot. http://www.tampabaywater.org/WEB/Htm/News/news-item28.htm ------ http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/water/water-recycling/archives/msg05163.html ------ http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/guide/desal.html ------------ http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:NkuysotnfdQC:www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/news82.pdf+desalination+plant+project+Tampa+FL+Business+Journal&hl=en&ie=UTF8 --------------------------------- So you think the drought is a minor problem? Not so, check out Maryland, they are in a bad situation too; www.gov.state.md.us Here is what they had to say: Copied from the web site and article in the Maryland Newspaper:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOVERNOR GLENDENING ENACTS MANDATORY STATEWIDE WATER USAGE RESTRICTIONS TO ADDRESS DROUGHT ------ Measures to Take Effect Immediately and Include Ban on Open Burning------ ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 4, 1999) Seeking to conserve dwindling water supplies resulting from Maryland's worst drought since the 1930s, Governor Parris N. Glendening today placed mandatory restrictions on water usage throughout the State. After studying the recommendations of his Drought Emergency Coordinating Committee, Governor Glendening released an Executive Order which requires all Marylanders to limit their water use. The mandatory restrictions replace voluntary measures which the Governor had implemented last week, and take effect on a statewide basis immediately. "This drought has devastated Maryland's water supply, drying up rivers, streams, and reservoirs," said Governor Glendening. "We must act responsibly now to contain this problem before it gets out of hand. These restrictions are simple, common sense, mandatory steps that everyone must take to help us conserve water. If each person does his or her part, we can work through this problem." The full set of water restrictions, as well as restrictions on outside burning, are attached to this release. "The more responsible we are today, the easier it will be for everyone in the coming weeks," said Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. "We are calling upon Maryland's great tradition of shared sacrifice in times of trouble and asking our citizens to go beyond the restrictions to conserve water any way they can." -------- Last week, the Governor declared the first statewide drought emergency in Maryland's history. At the time, the Governor enacted voluntary restrictions, and appointed a Drought Emergency Coordinating Committee, chaired by Environmental Secretary Jane Nishida, to study the drought and make recommendations to him about implementing mandatory water conservation measures. ---- The Committee released its report on Tuesday, concluding that drought conditions were so dire that the Governor ought to enact mandatory measures immediately. After studying the report, the Governor released his Executive Order, which implemented the Committee's recommendations. --- "Moving from voluntary to mandatory restrictions was not an arbitrary decision," Governor Glendening said. "After reviewing the Committee's report, I have determined that this drought is so severe that we cannot solve this problem by voluntary restrictions alone." ----- The Governor's Executive Order requires that every Marylander conserve water by eliminating nearly all outdoor water use. The measures apply to all individuals, businesses, and governments in every jurisdiction. In addition, the measures apply to all citizens regardless of whether they use public water systems or wells. ------- The Executive Order authorizes local law enforcement authorities to penalize people who violate the restrictions. Penalties can range from a warning for the first offense to a maximum of a $1,000 fine. ------- "These are tough restrictions, but we will be reasonable and fair," the Governor said. "The Executive Order gives local authorities the discretion to grant exceptions for extreme hardship cases. And, we have set aside $250,000 in grants to help seniors and those with lower-incomes save water by buying water-conserving shower heads and repairing leaky faucets." ------ The Governor also announced that the State will provide comprehensive information on what people may or may not do to conserve water. For information regarding the drought, Marylanders can call the Department of Environment's toll-free hotline at 1-877-4- DROUGHT (1-877-437-6844), or check the Governor's web page at www.gov.state.md.us and click on drought information. --------- This concludes my research for today Part I, 458 pages left to review and will have time tonight.
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