Senator Barack Obama has answered the top 14 science questions facing America put to him by the Science Debate 2008 people. Here's what he has to say about water issues:
Solutions to this critical problem will require close collaboration between federal, state, and local governments and the people and businesses affected. First, prices and policies must be set in a ways that give everyone a clear incentive to use water efficiently and avoid waste. Regulations affecting water use in appliances and incentives to shift from irrigated lawns to "water smart" landscapes are examples. Second, information, training, and, in some cases, economic assistance should be provided to farms and businesses that will need to shift to more efficient water practices. Many communities are offering kits to help businesses and homeowners audit their water use and find ways to reduce use. These should be evaluated, with the most successful programs expanded to other states and regions. I will establish a national plan to help high-growth regions with the challenges of managing their water supplies.
In addition, it is also critical that we undertake a concerted program of research, development, and testing of new technologies that can reduce water use.
We're wondering what a, "national plan to help high-growth regions with the challenges of managing their water supplies," would look like?
We hope it includes desalination in the southwest, near the oceans. Water could stay in the Colorado mainstem for environmental purposes or used by the lower basin states in areas distant from the desal plants.
We should revisit the de-commissioning of Glen Canyon Dam. The water loss from evaporation could be reduced by moving Upper Basin storage to Lake Mead. Less surface area, less evaporation.
The U.S.A. should explore the idea of prohibiting transbasin diversions. These are river killers. When water is used in the same basin, for irrigation or municipal uses some of the water is returned, not consumed. When water is transported, out of basin, all of it is gone from the originating basin forever.
We're seeing this type of thinking bubbling up from the grass roots. A good example is the Great Lakes Basin Compact and its approval by the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Quebec. They're planning to keep all water in basin.
According to Science Debate 2008 Senator McCain has agreed to answer their questions. No word about whether he's going to advocate teaching creation science in the schools as his soulmate has.
"colorado water"
11:12:09 AM 
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