Silver Lake Daily Newsletter.com

An Editorial

Colorado 'River' Needs the Most Rain of All:
Wyoming County could use a few more days of downpours or all day rains

I have this 'unique' concept that sufficient rain and adequate sunshine results in a bumper crop. Now I also realize that the knowledge of the farmer is essential to work with quality seeds, fertilizer, good planting techniques, providing irrigation (when necessary), insect control, and preventing varmint damages, to name a few, are also essential factors. But water and sun remain essential.

Cloudy dark days give our minds the impression that we are having "another rainy day." But that may not necessarily be true. Clouds raise the possibility of rain but do not guarantee it. I must "participate" in the rain to be sure of its advantage to the crop growers.

My property, my house, my car, my lawn, my flowers, my trees and at times, my umbrella, or even my own person must get wet in order to insure that water, not sole clouds, are involved. While it is true that clouds alone are counter productive (preventing the sun), they at least provide us with the hope of life-giving rain along with less evaporation in the meantime.

America's Southwest is not so fortunate. For the most part, they are nearly cloudless and a little more hopeless. In these days, they are having to drastically cut back on water (some by 21%). Their source(s) are nearly dried up. It's not so much a case of paying more for their water as it is a case of not enough water for which to pay.

I was in my mid twenties when the Arizona fountains on so many business and retail architectures flowed freely all day and sometimes all night. Even though recirculated, they had to be reinfused with fresh water regularly because of mass evaporation with some of the average temperatures in the 90s.

Residents from certain sections of the Northeast came to the Southwest in a steady stream longing for a snowless existence and wanting to raise their northeastern-type lawns in the dessert. They had to flood their lawns, front and back, with approximately 3 inches of water twice a day to get it to survive. I've been told that that's forbidden now, but it seems to be almost too late.

Yes, I live next to two great lakes and other fresh water supplies but I don't become too complacent, we already are susceptible to drought and damage to crops. If the temperatures increase and the rain does not, all northeastern, north-central and mid western farm lands may have to irrigate regularly. Think of the drain on the Great Lakes then, not to mention the cost of piping an adequate water supply throughout the States to cover such massive acreage. 

Is there time to reverse the growing water shortages (or the thinning ozone layer)? Is there a will to alter our lifestyles to even do so? Life itself requires adequate water and, as I see it, we are all in this together. Denials are not helpful but ideas and determination are.