Good morning!
I’m Lacy McKay.
and it’s Water Wednesdays on KSJD’s Outdoor Report.
The Colorado River Basin has long faced drought, but experts are now asking: are we in a temporary dry spell — or something more permanent?
While drought typically implies conditions will return to normal, “aridification” means a lasting shift toward a drier climate.
In the Basin, defining “normal” is complicated by size, landscape, and variability.
Tree-ring data suggests today’s drought may still fall within historical patterns, but if it continues, it could become the most severe in over 1,200 years.
Climate models predict a warmer future, with more dry days and intense storms, impacting how water moves through the system.
That poses challenges for the reservoirs we rely on to manage water supply.
While scientists use tools like the U.S. Drought Monitor to assess short-term conditions, there’s growing concern that long-term aridification could reshape water planning across the West permanently.
That’s the KSJD Outdoor Report for today.
And remember, water is life here in the Four Corners, and is a resource we all share.
