NRDC Study Highlights Water-Shortage Risks

More than 30 California counties are at high risk of water shortages by mid-century without action to address climate change and reduce water use, according to a report this week by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report, based on an analysis by Northern California consulting firm Tetra Tech, identified more than 400 counties in the United States that face an “extremely high risk” of not having enough water to meet demands due to climate change.

According to the report, 14 states face an extreme or high risk to water sustainability, or are likely to see limitations on water availability as demand exceeds supply by 2050. The states include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

In California, 19 counties are identified as being at “extreme” risk, while another 17 are said to be at “high” risk of shortages due to the impacts of climate change. Even without the effects of climate change, the analysis showed that four California counties are at “extreme” risk and 24 counties at “high” risk of shortages by mid-century.

The complete report and county- and state-specific maps are available here.