In 1967, Utah Sen. Frank Moss published a book titled “The Water Crisis.” Had Congress paid attention to his recommendations, the nation would not be struggling with a disappearing Great Salt Lake, empty reservoirs along the Colorado River and excess flooding in major river basins.
The senator’s recommendations were founded on the reality that river basins and water resources are not limited by state boundaries. Water comes from rain or melting snow in one state and flows through other states on its way back to the ocean or to the Great Salt Lake.
Moss proposed that the only way to resolve water issues is to deal with the totality of each river basin. As examples, the senator noted the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Colorado River Compact. Both of those positive examples required the federal government to facilitate the process. And both proved hugely successful.
TVA provides “green” electric power through much of the South, helps farmers improve acreage yield and protects residents from devastating floods. It is totally self-funded, requiring zero tax dollars for operation of the system.
The Colorado River Project provides even greater benefits. It is a multi-state operation that was facilitated by the federal government. Without it, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and California would be far less productive than they are today. The same is true for northern Mexico.
Much of the “green” electric power citizens enjoy in those states would not exist were it not for Colorado River water storage developments. Neither would we have abundant supplies of irrigated fruits and vegetables that almost every American enjoys today, including most of the nation’s lettuce. And without storage reservoirs for Colorado River water, populations would not have been able to grow and flourish as they have in the West, especially in California.
Moss also envisioned moving water back and forth between river basins as weather patterns change from year to year, thereby reducing or eliminating damaging floods and droughts. He even suggested desalination of ocean water to compensate for lack of water in some areas.
Since Moss’s time, desalination has become much more efficient and less expensive, providing potable water for entire nations and thousands of ocean-going ships. No doubt, desalination will continue to become less expensive and more efficient. We also have new sources of electric energy, such as sun and wind, sources ideally suited for the interruptible applications connected with desalination and pumping.
There is no shortage of water. Earth has approximately the same amount of water it had a hundred years ago, or five hundred years ago, or a thousand years ago. The challenge is, and always will be, distribution of water. The way nature distributes water is not always efficient or timely. However, human intelligence makes it possible to partially compensate for nature’s limitations.
Water conservation is not the answer and never will be, any more than using less electric power is remotely effective in solving climate change problems. Quite the opposite. Moving water from place to place is necessary, as it has always been.
Imagine a system of pipes and pumps to move water from places of abundance to places of need, just as we move oil and natural gas from places of abundance to places of use. Would it be expensive? Of course. But far less expensive than repetitive floods and drought, less expensive than Boulder Dam, less expensive than sending humans to the moon and less expensive than railroads and freeways.
We have found ways to provide other costly necessities. We can afford improvements to water distribution. And we will. Putting it off will only add to the expense, create more water crises, and delay the benefits.
Don Gale.
Don Gale is a Utah journalist who has written about numerous societal challenges over the past six decades, including more than one water crisis. Most have been resolved by remembering the lessons of history.
