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Nation’s Largest Reservoirs Are Drying Up, Threatening Life in the Southwest (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/climate@slrpnk.net
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Agriculture is the biggest user of the Colorado River, with alfalfa and other sources of livestock feed accounting for nearly half of the water consumed. Municipal water systems use about a quarter.

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[–] [S] 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

The alfalfa growers hold snior water rights, so they can do whatever they feel like while everybody else suffers

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    "They" is also the Saudi government which uses the water to grow alfalfa necessary to raise dairy cattle.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    I thought the Saudis grew Alfalfa in the US to send back to SA for fancy horses IIRC. Not even for cattle that will be eaten

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago

    600,000 dairy cows...

    https://dairynews.today/milkypedia/country/sa/

    They built up the herd size by growing alfalfa in the desert by pumping water from ancient aquifers. They have used up a significant portion and now import over 80% of their feed. They need to import 100% of the feed to meet their needs as their water dries up.

    They bought ground in Arizona because it is grown in conditions like what they have experience with. They have been using the same alfalfa varieties.

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