EWB-ABQ Meeting 4-25-2012

1. EWB-ABQ Meeting 4-25-2012 • Need a better meeting venue • Projects for 2012 • Rainwater Harvesting as an area of expertise for the chapter? • Ramah greenhouse • EWB Regional and National News; domestic programs policy • Ideas for other projects: ABQ school greenhouse/gardens; Pajarito Mesa; Jerusalem; others? • Recruitment ideas • Education requests and resources

2. Rainwater Harvesting A desert imperative

3. Drought—The New Normal or a stunning coincidence? • 2011— The largest wildfire in Arizona history—538,049 acres • 2011—The larges wildfire in New Mexico history—156,600 acres • 2011—Texas has the worst fire year in its history—3,697,000 acres • For New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, also the driest year in 117 years of record keeping • Also the hottest August for NM, TX, LA and for Arizona and Colorado

4. Climate Change will is hitting the Southwest hard • Climate models predict a 4°C average regional temperature rise by 2200 • Stream flow models based on predicted temperatures predict stream flow losses of 10-30% • So far, the Southwest appears to be experiencing ~ 1°C temperature increase over historical norms • Studies by Scripps Oceanographic Institute and University of Colorado conclude that, after 2026, the risk of failure at Lake Meade increases dramatically • Even without climate change, there is evidence that droughts lasting 30-50 years rendered Chaco Canyon (12th century) and Mesa Verde (13th century) uninhabitable • Archeological evidence suggests that these droughts did not bring out the very best in human nature

5. New Mexico’s Prospects • Since the 1960s, New Mexico temperatures have increased 2° F in the winter and 3° F in the summer, significantly greater than overall global temperature increases • In the future, we can expect an increased incidence of extreme rainfall events and increased droughts • By the end of the 21st century, models predict that temperatures will have increased by 5° F and 8° F in winter and summer, respectively • These changes will result in less snow pack and earlier spring stream flow, reducing the water available for agriculture • 75% of water use in New for agriculture Mexico is from surface sources • Increased temperature will lead to greater evaporative loss from streams, lakes, reservoirs and increased transpiration from plants

6. What’s this got to do with EWB? • Stress on water supplies will force municipalities to increase the price of water • Water table decline will force reduced use by private well owners • Reduced landscaping will create a hotter, drier environment, more susceptible to ground water loss through evaporation and to erosion during high intensity rainfall events • Successful implementation of rainwater harvesting in selected, well publicized situations can serve as a catalyst for wide scale adoption

7. Basics of Rainwater Harvesting • Catchment surface: the collection surface from which rainfall runs off • Gutters and downspouts: channel water from the roof to the tank • Leaf screens, first-flush diverters, and roof washers: components which remove debris and dust from the captured rainwater before it goes to the tank • One or more storage tanks, also called cisterns • Delivery system: gravity-fed or pumped to the end use • Treatment/purification: for potable systems, filters and other methods to make the water safe to drink

8. If we want to do this, how do we start? • Ramah greenhouse? • Charter school irrigation? • Other?

9. References • http://www.salon.com/2011/12/05/extreme_droughts_the_new_normal/print/