It is a sad fact that in the future, climate change will produce many disastrous results. The impact on snowpacks in California is one such effect, as they state could potentially suffer from water shortages in the future. Many people rely on the diminishing water supplies provided by the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada. Water shortage is defined by not having enough water to meet the demands from a region. Since the snowpack in the Sierras supplies about two-thirds of the state supply, removing it would surely cause shortages of water across the state of California.
In the year 2018-2019, there was approximately 50% of the water there is normally, and the problem is still growing. In fact, a few years earlier in the year 2014, satellite images show how little snow there was compared to other years. Already, compared to no climate change, there is 33% less snowpack. However, this problem can only become worse. Research at UCLA indicates that by 2050, 36% more water resources could be gone. The people working there also state that there will be much more early snowmelt leading to insufficient resources for the summer. Truly, much of the water of California is at risk, due to problems such as climate change.
The fact that the Sierra Nevada is losing its snowpack comes from one major cause, which is global warming, defined as the gradual increase in temperature over long times. Due to this effect, caused by the increase in gases that trap heat, snow in mountains is diminishing. According to the current global trajectory, the temperature in the Sierras will rise by 5-10 degrees. This would melt any snow between 32 and 37 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to simply a warming planet, elevations from about 5 to 8 thousand feet are at high risk of an additional effect known as snow albedo feedback. Albedo is a measure of a material’s brightness, and because snow has a high albedo, it reflects light instead of absorbing it. If a bit of dirt or vegetation is exposed, it will absorb heat and transfer the heat over to nearby snow, exposing more ground to absorb heat and melt more snow, creating a cycle. In total, as much as 3.6 degrees are contributed in some places. Without a doubt, the causes of snow loss are the activity of releasing heat-trapping gases and the warming effect of that. However, effects of snow loss are intensified by what is called snow albedo feedback.
The effects of any problem or flaw, including climate change’s impact on the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada, are as important as the causes. Basically, effects of this particular issue are mainly depletion of water resources. Less water to do activities such as take showers, do the laundry, grow your grass, and put in water bottles to drink. 66% of California’s water comes straight from the snow of the mountains, according to the research of UCLA. Another effect is that melt off from the mountains will be earlier, and more unpredictable, causing more problems such as potential floods and droughts. The peak in runoff today is many days early of what it should be, causing a problem of less water in the summer, where it’s in the most demand. The many dams of the state store water for usage later, as well as blocking floodwaters from flooding downstream communities. They can’t be filled to the edge. Certainly, the effects of climate change on snowpacks have caused serious effects of depletion of water resources, and can only get worse in the future.
Artificial Grass as a Potential Solution
One solution for reducing the impact of the problem is to get enough grass replaced with the artificial type. UCLA also stated in their researches that half of water in the residential area goes to lawns. Replacing many lawns would cut water consumption by a large amount. Fake grass was first used in the year 1965. Back then, it was called ‘Astroturf’ by the company. One of its first uses was in a sports stadium, in the year 1966. The reason behind using it was real, living grass would have died because there was no light. Since then, artificial grass has been used in many more places.
Installing artificial grass requires a lot of money, for a person who wants to replace their lawn. In order to install artificial grass, first measure out the area to cover, then get the amount needed. Next, simply put the grass in. After the starting cost of putting down a lawn of fake grass, it will take about zero water for the time that it is used. If there is any rainfall, the rain will fall through, and not be consumed like when it enters normal grass. The fact that fake grass does not consume water means it is much better than real grass for escaping some effects of a diminishing snowpack. The grass will have other benefits as well. There include not having to cut all the growing lawn, then putting the pile of grass in the trash can or wherever it goes.
Putting fake grass into outdoor places to reduce usage of water is significant. If enough people replace the grass, large amounts of water can be conserved and sent to other uses, or not used at all. It is certain that an artificial lawn will use less water than a real lawn. Without a doubt, replacing grass with fake grass is a good idea to reduce consumption of water. It is therefore also a solid way to solve problem associated with the Sierra Nevada snowpack melting away. Protecting the snow that translates into a large water supply is important. By using less water from that snow to water lawns, a good amount of that snow can be conserved. Installing a fake lawn is one of the better ways to reduce effects of the loss of snow.
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Also, another possible solution to climate change’s impact on the snowpack of the mountains is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC). The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is an organization that works to protect the environment of the Sierra Nevada. The organization also takes care of another factor influencing the region. It was founded in 2004 as a central organization to help conserve the Sierras. Created under the State Resources Agency of California, it still works today with many plans and other materials. The organization was “created with the understanding that the environmental, economic, and social… benefit from an organization”, according to their website. Simply, an organization was made to unite existing ones better.
The SNC is active in multiple projects designed to do thing such as improve forest health and reduce fires. Plans are made to also improve quality and quantity of water. They work with many other organizations with plans of millions of dollars. They will fund local projects local groups are doing. Long-term plans stretch to the year 2024, based on the text of the website. Additionally, 60% of state water comes from the region covered by the organization. This means that all that water can be improved by that group. Certainly, there are many ways in which the SNC can help protect the snowpacks.
This organization is so far successful over the course of about 18 years. Large amounts of money have been invested in efforts to help the Sierra Nevada. These efforts have not gone to waste. The efforts of this organization, along with many other partners help the forests, rivers carrying precious water, and other parts of the region. Research conducted by these groups showed that “water yields are improved due to ecological forest treatments”, which points out a way to improve water supply. Plans are still coming out in large numbers as the groups continue their work. Certainly, a large, regional organization founded in 2004 could help fix the situation of diminishing snowpack as a goal, among many others. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is cutting the scale of the effects of climate change on the Sierra Nevada snowpack.
Argument Towards Successful Solution
Sierra Nevada snow is an important supply of water for homes and farms that should be protected, and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is a good organization working with others to solve the problem by actin and researching. California’s many people with water coming from the snow could face water shortages later on if nothing is done. In fact, they have used many millions of dollars already to various purposes aiding the Sierra Nevada. Many projects have been supported by these dollars to work on water resources such as the delta plan. The delta refers to the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy was founded in 2004, and is still doing things such as protect the snowpack, rivers, forests, and water supplies. Also, the purpose of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy was to groups up the groups supporting the mountains. It funds smaller local projects with money. Without a doubt, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is a great organization for the goal of solving issues related to Sierra snowpack.
Even though the Sierra Nevada Conservancy does work to reduce the effects of climate change on the Sierra Nevada snowpack, artificial grass can be used by many more people and set up quickly, Artificial grass can directly reduce water consumption while being easy to set up, and reduces lawn work. However, the fact remains that in order to solve the problem of the effects of less snowpack, it will be important to develop better means to manage water. This means that although artificial grass is a good tool, organizations such as the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is better for working to a dedicated solution. Since artificial grass will consume much less water than real grass, people may choose it. In the city of Los Angeles, half the water going to residential areas find their way onto lawns. Fake grass could pay for itself by not using water over time. Additionally, any rainfall can pass through the surface of fake grass rather than being absorbed by lots of roots of grass. Over 62 gallons will be used for every 100 square feet of grass. Also, the grass is simply not adapted for hot and dry climates. Cleary, artificial grass can be a solution for preserving the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada by reducing the consumption of water.
When looking at the potential consequences of climate change and the effect of it on the snow in the mountains, it is clear that the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is a better way to reduce the effects of this problem. In fact, if nothing is done to reduce global warming, then temperatures get 10 degrees higher, 30% less water by 2050, and another 30% less by 2100. For a person named Enelesi who lives in Malawi, waking up at 4 in the morning was normal, only because she has to walk to the next town to get water. When she gets there, they might not give her the fresh water. Clearly, people should act to conserve the precious resources of snowpack of California and other places because it is a natural supply of water that takes care of the needs of millions. Without doubt, it is critical that the snowpack is preserved. Solutions like Sierra Nevada Conservancy will provide the very important support to address this issue.