Dog Days Of Summer

During this hot spell felt among a dozen states and several provinces we are finally believing in climate change. The USA is experiencing drought conditions that they have not seen during the record keeping of such data. Massive crop failures are about to take place and the world will be impacted because this is the bread basket of America. Canada's west is pretty well off but Ontario has been hit very hard in the corn belt and rain is needed in the next ten days to avoid huge failures.

On a smaller scale Theresa and I were in Hamilton during the past few days and all you see is brown, burnt grass and withering bushes and trees. Our yard would be the same were it not for the gallons of water I put out every day. Water restrictions are in place in many areas and there is no end in sight.

All records are being broken and extremes are recorded every weather report.Using our water resources will be a high priority in the near future. Canada does not have a comprehensive water policy but it is easy to see with the USA running out of options they will be looking to use more water from the Great Lakes. Already the residents around Georgian are complaining about low water levels. The St. Clair and Detroit Rivers have been dredged to accommodate larger ships so the rate of water flow has increased and the result is the Great Lakes dropping significantly.

These problems are increasing in the Sun Belt where we witnessed dry lakes and rivers in the south. Florida was so low in it's water table that navigation in some canals were discontinued last year. These are just the tip of the world problem. In Africa whole areas have returned to near desert conditions thus causing famine.

I guess conservation begins at home so I will put away my sprinklers and water with a watering can for the next while. A little brown colour on our lawns could be a symbol of green power in the future.