In the movie “Sahara,” Humphrey Bogart was trying to get the Germans to surrender by pretending to wash his head while water was poured over him. The Germans hadn’t had water for days and surrendered rather than die of thirst.

            Why is that scene relevant? Think of today’s droughts in the Southwest. For decades people have been moving to the Southwest, first for retirement and then for work. In many cities in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, and Nevada, homeowners are paid to tear up grass and go with desert plants and no grass. This is done to save precious water.

            Lake Mead is at its lowest level ever and this is summer when the snow should still be melting. This year was even less than the past few years. The drawdown has been more than the snow pack for decades with climate change causing extreme constant drought.

            We have known for years that much of our fruit and vegetables come from the area irrigated by the Colorado River coming from Lake Mead. Irrigation water is already being reduced to save it for people. Which brings us back to Humphrey Bogart getting the Germans to come to him… The upper Midwest has lots of lakes and rivers to support people moving from the Southwest. T. Boone Pickens has bought the Aquifers under many Colorado Valleys because “one day water will be more important than oil.”. That day may be here!