Post Carbon Fellow Sandra Postel was quoted at Bloomberg News on the threats to North American desert wetlands posed by drought, overuse and over allocation of water, and low levels of water in Lake Mead.

From the article:

While the Bureau of Reclamation doesn’t expect to have to declare a shortage at Lake Mead before 2020, the risk “remains high and growing,” Sandra Postel, director the Global Water Policy Project, told Bloomberg Environment.

But the worst might be avoided if Arizona, Nevada, and California reduce water consumption, banking more water in Lake Mead. “This is an all hands on deck moment,” Postel said.

“Conservation, efficiency improvements, and voluntary water trades can play a big role in achieving this balance,” Postel said.