Daniel Salzler No. 1291 EnviroInsight.org Four Items January 31, 2025
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1. Why Is the Colorado River Running Dry? It’s not just drought. It’s putting sacred cows above farmers, cities, and a secure future.
Most of the water in the river system—some 90 percent—falls as rain and snow in the mountains of the Upper Basin. To go back to the shape of a tree, the Lower Basin of the Colorado is the trunk, and the Upper Basin is the branches. Snowmelt from the upper branches in rural Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah runs downstream to supply the Lower Basin and the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Because the river—the whole watershed is so prone to drought, we built the country’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell to ensure the West’s cities and farms don’t run out of water.
The last time these two reservoirs were at full capacity was in the summer of 2000. In 2022, after 22 years of drought, both reservoirs were at about one-quarter of capacity. If that rate of decline were to continue, they’d both be empty in six years. The deluges of last winter bought us some time. But they don’t change the fact that the Colorado River system is in dire straits. If the waterline drops below the dams’ intake ports, their electromagnetic dynamos, which can generate up to 3.4 gigawatts, will no longer be able to bring energy to 1.6 million people. After that comes the level called “dead pool,” where the water drops below the reservoirs’ outlet ports and can no longer flow through to the river’s lower stretches.
Dead pool on Mead and Powell could mean people in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas would not be able to wash their dishes or flush their toilets or get a drink of water from their hoses. These city-states could collapse. This is why people are freaking out about the Colorado going dry.
The problem at hand is clear: Somehow we need to find water to refill the reservoirs. We can’t control the amount of precipitation that falls within the Colorado River watershed, but we can control how we use the water that’s available. If we use less, there will be more to store in the reservoirs.
The river supplies 40 million people, the large majority living in cities, and you’d think this is where we could conserve a large amount of water. But it turns out that the cities—all the homes and lawns and golf courses and public parks and even the celebrity swimming pools—account for only 12 percent of what’s drawn from the river. Industry, such as factories and power plants and data centers, uses another 8 percent. And the rest, 79 percent of what we take from the river, goes to agriculture.
This seems like a lot of water being used for farming, but it’s actually a normal percentage compared with other river systems around the world; it takes a lot of water to grow food. What’s not normal about the Colorado River, however, is that an enormous portion, as much as 70 percent, of the water devoted to agriculture goes to just two crops—alfalfa and grass—to make hay. When you do the math, this means that more than half the water siphoned from the Colorado River is used to grow food for beef and dairy cattle, as well as for some sheep and horses.
Most people are unaware of this fact. It gets mentioned in news stories from time to time, but it drops out of the conversation, which seems tied up in arguments about more efficient sprinklers and getting rid of golf courses.
We need to wake up, quickly. Using more than half the water we take out of the river to make hay is delusional. Colorado River Basin states produce only 15 percent of our nation’s supply of hay—and by market value, 17 percent of that is exported overseas, mainly to China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
So if we stopped using Colorado River water to grow hay, our country would suffer just a 15 percent loss in hay production, but there would be enough water in the river to refill the reservoirs even as we continue to provide water to the growing cities.
One ton of Colorado River hay is worth about $275. It takes as much water to grow that 1 ton of hay—450,000 gallons—as it does to supply four average homes with water for one year. It takes about 1,800 gallons to produce one pound of beef. This means that every time I eat a quarter-pounder, I’m also consuming 450 gallons of water. This is not an efficient use of a scarce resource. It’s like driving a semitrailer to the grocery store to buy a bag of chips.
To change this part of the system we first need to understand how things got this way, and to do this we must back up to when American settlement in the upper Colorado River Basin began. So let’s go back to the map, a topographic map showing lines of elevation, one drawn by Colorado River explorer John Wesley Powell in 1878. It shows much of the Upper Basin of the Colorado River. Almost all of the water in the river system falls as snow from clouds as they pass over mountain ranges in the Upper Basin. These ranges are part of the greater Rocky Mountain system, and it’s common to think of them as forming one long wall that stands before the Great Plains, but they are actually more like a broad chain of islands, separate and isolated, floating in a vast ocean of sagebrush desert. In the winter, they become islands of snow.
Powell’s topographic map shows the land in the Upper Basin he believed could be inhabited by settlers who were packing their bags to go west and stake their claims. It’s a small amount of land, only 3 percent of the whole area, and it’s all surrounding the bases of the snow island mountains—precious greenbelts from 6,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level. Everything below 6,000 feet—97 percent of the map—is desert. Everything above 10,000 feet is high alpine or tundra. But in between there are grasslands.
It takes a lot of water for grass to grow, and the mountains provide a lot of water, snow that runs off in sheets every spring, creating lush meadows in broad valleys at the base of the slopes. Think of the scenery in a Marlboro advertisement—all the green grass below a snowcapped mountain. Powell said people could survive here in small, isolated communities, but warned there was not enough water coming off the mountains to build any kind of city, because cities need a lot of food and the amount of arable land was just too small.
2. Eve In The Desert, We Can Have Mold In Our Homes. Combat Mold The Safer Way. Source:EWG.org
It’s winter! We Closed windows and doors keep the heat in, but that also traps moisture from cooking, cleaning, bathing, spills and even wet rain gear. All that dampness provides the perfect environment in which mold and mildew can thrive – and threaten our health.
Mold spores, the microscopic reproductive cells of molds, are everywhere – in the air and on surfaces like walls and furniture. When the air contains too much moisture, maybe because of leaks or flooding, mold spores can rapidly multiply. In just a few days, mold can spread and contaminate affected areas, such as those already compromised by storm damage(link is external).
Health hazards
When mold colonies are disturbed, thousands of tiny spores are released into the air, which can cause health problems when we inhale or touch them. Once exposed to mold, even otherwise healthy people can experience allergic and respiratory symptoms like sneezing, coughing, wheezing, irritated eyes and skin irritation.
People with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system are at higher risk and can suffer serious problems, such as difficulty breathing and lung infections.
Prolonged exposure to mold can also worsen chronic respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD. It might also lead to asthma in healthy children and adults.
Extended mold exposure has been linked to hypersensitivity pneumonitis(link is external), a rare immune disorder that triggers inflammation of the tiny sacs in our lungs and can lead to permanent lung scarring. And it can prompt fungal infections to develop in the lungs of immunocompromised individuals.
Workers may be especially likely to experience fever and shortness of breath from large-scale mold exposure in occupational settings.
While the connection between mold and respiratory harms is well established, the science is less clear when it comes to mold’s effects on brain function and behavior(link is external) or other physiologic problems(link is external), such as pain and fatigue. Some people living or working in moldy environments report these symptoms, Individuals exposed to mold, particularly those who are sensitive or have prolonged exposure, have reported various neurological symptoms including:
- Brain Fog: Characterized by difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and mental fatigue.
- Cognitive Impairment: This includes difficulties with thinking, learning, and problem-solving.
- Headaches and Migraines: Some people report frequent or severe headaches linked to mold exposure.
- Mood Changes: Anxiety, depression, irritability, and other mood disturbances are often reported.
- Fatigue: Persistent and debilitating fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest is a common complaint.
- Numbness and Tingling: Neuropathy, including numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the extremities has been linked to mold toxicity.
- Sleep Disturbances: Insomnia, difficulty staying asleep, and other sleep-related issues are also noted. Source: EnviroLiteracy Committee
Researchers from Rutgers and Emory universities discovered an association(link is external) between a volatile organic compound released by mold, 1-octen-3-ol, and damage to the genes that regulate dopamine. These findings suggest that exposure to mold could play a role in the development of diseases of the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(link is external), exposure to a less common type of fungi found in homes – the “toxic black mold” stachybotrys chartarum – has been linked in a small number of cases to the rare health condition, pulmonary hemorrhage.
Groups at highest risk
Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. To reduce the risk of exposure and illness, these people should avoid mold cleanup and areas where mold is being removed or take extra precautions. These groups include:
- People with mold allergies, asthma, COPD or other respiratory problems.
- Children under 12 and the elderly.
- People with suppressed immune systems, like cancer patients.
- Mold remediators, agricultural workers and other workers who handle mold infestations.
How to clean mold safely
Only products registered by the Environmental Protection Agency as fungicidal disinfectants or sanitizers can claim to kill mold or mildew(suggest using the product “Benefect”). Some products might remove mold or mildew stains but aren’t approved for disinfecting or sanitizing.
Should I use bleach?
Chlorine bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is not recommended for mold control. It can irritate and burn skin, eyes and lungs. It also has to stand for at least 10 minutes in liquid form just to kill surface mold.
Never mix bleach or cleaners with sodium hypochlorite with ammonia or other household cleaners. Doing so can produce toxic gasses and caustic acids that can lead to injury and even death.
Regular soap and water can keep mold levels in check. If you must disinfect, look for products with active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, citric acid, caprylic acid, thymol or ethanol.
Here are more tips:
- Search our Guide to Healthy Cleaning for safer antimicrobial products.
- Avoid cleaners that have ADBAC or DDAC quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, on the ingredients label. Some quat mixtures have been linked to asthma.
- Always follow the manufacturers’ label precautions and instructions for safe and effective use, including suggested amounts, how long to leave a product undisturbed after application to be effective, usually about 10 minutes, and whether the surface needs rinsing after application.
To check the overall safety of cleaning products, including both active and inactive ingredients, visit stores or use our Cleaners Guide to find EWG Verified® or top-rated mold and mildew removers, bathroom cleaners or shower cleaners. Some general purpose cleaners may also be effective.
Preventing mold growth
Here are some ways to lower the risk of mold and mildew:
- Reduce moisture in your home and clean bath items often.
- Use dehumidifiers, open windows and turn on HVAC systems to reduce dampness.
- Install or place a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels in your home, aiming for 30 percent to 50 percent humidity.
- Turn on the exhaust fans over your stove when cooking, or in your bathroom when showering, to lower condensation.
- Fix leaks quickly to prevent water from sitting and leading to mold.
- Consider using mold-resistant materials, like non-paper-faced drywall, in damp areas like basements or bathrooms.
- Try a lime-based whitewash primer instead of a mold-resistant paint treated with typical biocides like butyl carbamate.
- Clean shower curtains and bath rugs frequently.
- For mold and mildew stains on shower curtains and other fabrics, follow label directions and warnings for soaking and washing found on an EWG Verified or top-rated non-chlorine bleach product or stain remover.
- Alternatively, soak fabrics for at least one hour in a sink or washer filled with a solution of warm or hot water and pure sodium percarbonate(link is external), then launder as usual. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for best dilutions and soaking times. Heavier stains may require longer or repeated soaking.
- Before using any solution, make sure to test it on an inconspicuous area of fabric for compatibility.Source:EWG.,org and Editor (EPA Certified Mold and Microbial Inspector)
3. Have We Become This Stupid? In 1947, Stephen Ausnit fled Communist Romania. In 1951 he, his father(Max), and his uncle (Edgar) bought the rights to the original plastic zipper, which had been designed by a Danish inventor named Borge Madsen. Madsen didn’t have any specific applications in mind so Ausnit began experimenting with the plastic zippers. He formed Flexigrip with his father and uncle to manufacture the zippers; when the slider used in the original design prove to costly to make. Ausnit use his experience as a mechanical engineer to create the press-and-seal zipper. Thus the original Ziploc-style bag plastic bag was born. In 1962 Ausnit learned of a Japanese company called Seisan Nishon Sha that could incorporate the zipper into the bag itself(as opposed to heat press). Vausnit licensed the rights to this technology informed the second company called Minigrip. Soon after Dow Chemical requested an exclusive grocery-store license and introduced the Ziploc bag to a test market in 1968. While it wasn’t an immediate success., by 1973, the Ziploc bag was popular and beloved as a storage option for everything from food to children’s toys. Today Ziploc bags and similar products remain popular although in some cases, single used plastic are being phased out for environmental reason. Source: BackThen History
Ziploc is an American brand of reusable, re-sealable sliding channel storage bags and
containers originally developed and test marketed by Dow Chemical Company in 1968 and now produced by S. C. Johnson& Son. The plastic bags and container come in different sizes for use with different products and are sold under different labels. But! Do we really need the bags to be imprinted with “Open” and “Closed” Source: ZiplocHistory.com
4. Arizona Water Experts React To Farming Uncertainty Regarding Trump Administration
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Valley is approaching 160 days without measurable rainfall.
It’s been a dry winter up north, raising concerns about our snowpack, which is crucial to our water supply.
Arizona farmers already faced water cuts from their supply of Colorado River water. Now, they’re wondering how a new administration will impact water policy. Farmers need to know how much water they will have to plan what crops to grow and when.
As of this writing, Trump hast announced his pick,Doug Burgum, to lead the Reclamation Bureau, which oversees water issues. A water expert says this choice is making farmers feel uneasy. That uneasiness could affect the crops they grow and the food we put on the table.
“The new administration means uncertainty,” said Sarah Porter, the Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at ASU “It could change the way farmers plan what they grow and decide to grow. They might have a preference for crops that can tolerate uncertainty more.”
Porter is reacting to potential changes in water allocation as Trump takes office.“For example, a farmer may have a preference of growing alfalfa instead of all the fresh vegetables the whole nation enjoys that are grown here in Yuma,” she said.
Arizona is known for producing leafy greens like lettuce, asparagus and broccoli, which are a key economic driver in our state.
Last year, farming generated $ 31 billion for the state’s economy. “If you think about the business of farming, it is a high-risk business. And farmers need to be able to plan out their planning strategy years in advance,” Porter said.
Arizona is one of seven states that relies heavily on water allocated from the Colorado River.
“Right now the seven states that share water from the Colorado River are in a very contentious, super difficult negotiation to figure out as a region to take less water from the river,” Porter said.
Now, the seven states need to agree on using less river water by the end of the year. “There is a concern that if we don’t come to an agreement that perhaps the federal government would take actions that wouldn’t be the groups who use the water would prefer. ”Porter says that’s where things get complicated. “The person who is in charge of operating the Colorado River System is the commissioner of reclamation and we haven’t even heard yet who is going to be nominated to be the commissioner of the bureau.”
And the shared sense of uncertainty, Porter says, could have real impacts, “so it’s not so much people thinking oh my allocation has changed as much as I have no idea what is going to happen in the future.”
Porter says it could impact the cost of produce or farm products and the overall availability of your favorite products–fruits and vegetables–at the grocery store.
If the seven states don’t reach an agreement about Colorado River water allocation, the impact will occur in 2026. It also depends on snowfall. It also depends on who Trump picks. Source:KTVK/KPHO
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