Category: Drought

Uganda Says Coffee Exports Down 14 Percent Year-Over-Year Due to Drought

KAMPALA—Uganda’s coffee exports declined last month due to the impact of a drought affecting many growing areas across the country, the state-run sector regulator said. The east African country shipped a total of 503,695 60-kg bags of coffee beans in September, down 14 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, Uganda Coffee Development…


Ghost Towns Resurfacing As Lakes Recede Amid Worsening Western Drought

Every two or three years, Lake Isabella’s shoreline pulls back almost like clockwork, and the former town of Old Kernville, California, rises from its watery grave to reveal its crumbling skeleton. Retired Hollywood cinematographer Chuck Barbee has watched the lake give up its famous ghost town many times with interest. The main difference today, he…


Recent Rains Raise Port Jervis Water Reservoirs to 73 Percent Full

Three reservoirs providing drinking water for Port Jervis, New York, are now 73 percent full, according to the city’s chief water plant operator Scott Decker on Oct. 11. Following a good amount of rain, the city’s smallest reservoir at the head of the water filtration plant is now full, followed by the Huguenot Brook reservoir…


California’s Drought Withers Tomatoes, Pushing Grocery Prices Higher

FIREBAUGH, Calif.—A lack of rain and snow in central California and restricted water supplies from the Colorado River in the southernmost part of the state have withered summer crops like tomatoes and onions and threatened leafy greens grown in the winter. That has added pressure to grocery prices, putting a squeeze on wallets with no…


Chapman Conference Advances Water Solutions

Commentary The main takeaway from the Chapman University Water Abundance Conference held Thursday, Sept. 15, at the school’s campus is: California’s water issues are difficult but can be solved. The all-day event’s presentations and discussions are online for free here and worth watching. The event occurred in the midst of the third year of yet…


Wildfires Could Cause Cascading Problems for Drought-Stricken West

Smoke-filled skies blanket the West Coast, while on the ground, thousands of bone-dry acres burn. Historic levels of dryness in areas like California have only increased over the past three years, and firefighters combatting the infernos use every tool at their disposal to try to get the upper hand. After a fire, charred trees stand…


What’s Happening With Farmers and Food Prices

Civilization has long depended on farmers to bring food to the table, but that’s not all farmers provide. Many people want farmers to grow crops like soybeans, to contribute to environmentally friendly plastics, fuels, etc. But with harsh weather conditions, high fuel prices, and increased fertilizer costs, farmers find it more difficult to deliver. When…


Sichuan Suffers Disasters One After Another, Strict COVID Policy Tops All

Sichuan, a landlocked, southwestern province in China, has turned into a disaster-stricken area in the past month. On top of the natural disasters such as record high temperatures, historic drought, rampant wildfires, and floods, to the latest earthquake, Sichuan also suffers from a man-made disaster—strict pandemic prevention measures. Local residents air their vexations online, most complain…


Californians Urged to Conserve Power, Reduce Grid Strain Amid Record-Breaking Heat Wave

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday urged residents to conserve electricity between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. as the power grid struggles to accommodate increased air conditioner use amid a heat wave. In a bid to relieve pressure on the state’s strained power grid, Newsom, a Democrat, asked Californians to “pre-cool” their homes earlier in…


Kiribati Drought Reaches Critical Levels: UNICEF

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is warning that children in Kiribati are at risk of bacterial contamination as drought in the Pacific nation worsens. Rice Chudeau, head of UNICEF Kiribati, told Radio New Zealand (RNZ) that current rainfall levels were at historic lows. “From the rainfall and well monitoring data, we know that the…