The Surprises Could Be Deadly

Anyone that wakes up and goes outside anywhere in the Austin area should know by now that we are in the midst of a very dangerous drought. In fact, this drought has been going on for almost a decade. New Austinites and young people are growing up accustomed to the lakes being at dangerously low levels, and islands everywhere on Lake Travis. The drought is doing more than cut off our recreational activities- it has made us come dangerously close to running out of local water supply, and some municipalities have already brought in water from other parts of the state. As the problem has persistently gotten worse, Austin and its surrounding suburbs have put various restrictions on the use of water in reaction to the decreasing water levels. There is an attempt being made to preserve the water we have, but it just hasn't been good enough.

Scientists at Texas A&M and Texas Tech University have forseen and studied this drought. There are demographical predictions as to what could happen within the next century based on what has been happening already. Studies show that the average temperature will continue rising, ever so slightly, but still depleting water sources. People in cities will be able to adjust to changes better than people elsewhere, specifically in agricultural areas. It is very possible to transfer water to cities that need it, or relocate in order to have more access to water. However, it is going to be more difficult when farmers run out the very source of growth for their crops. They will have to move North, and the change will be difficult. What some propose, and what I agree with, is a change in how we approach the problem that is at our doorstep.

The government in the state of Oklahoma has consistently worked with some scientists that study changes in the environment. With this close alliance, the state is more able to prepare for likely circumstances such as drought or another environmental disruption. Preventative measures allow the state to be better off in the long run. In regards to Texas, there are already some government leaders working with scientists to study the possible changes in demographics due to the environment, but more attention needs to be paid to the issue. I think as we anticipate the changes coming, we will be more apt to move through them with minimal damage as opposed to reacting to a change we didn't anticipate. Being one step ahead of the problem could really help us in the long run.