Desperate for Water
The Western U.S. has been gripped by drought for nearly a decade, leaving states fighting over water rights. Are we headed for another Dust Bowl?
How bad is the drought?
It started in 1999, and has spread to cover a third of the nation. Parts of the 11 Western states that have been hardest hit are experiencing the driest conditions on record, receiving only 20 percent of their normal rainfall. For California and Nevada, the last 12 months were the driest recorded since 1924. The volume of the Colorado River
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.