AURA

One thing they could do to help the River in my humble opinion would be to get water from the ocean that’s getting too much water in it from Antartica and the North Pole melting, instead of getting it from the River that doesn’t have enough.

Battles for Colorado River water are waged between seven western states, and within states by interest groups such as California’s Imperial Valley farmers versus San Diego county municipalities etc. Lots and lots of water is needed. Sine says it takes 8000 gallons of ultra-pure water to produce a single microchip for instance. The poor ol’ Colorado is viewed as a commodity and apportioned among the states by the Interior Department which has its hands full because the battles even get legal. Being a river, the Colorado evaporates anyway as it winds its way across the western deserts, and it evaporates even more as it’s diverted to trek in man-made river beds on its way to desert cities like Phoenix and Tucson. It doesn’t get quite as much runoff as it used to either as increasing numbers of desert dwellers pride themselves on catching roof runoff to “harvest the rain”.

Meanwhile, the ocean level is rising thanks to more carbon in the atmosphere warming ice at the north and south poles, the result being erosion of what had previously protected the coasts, not to mention the coming drowning of entire island nations.

So what a brilliant idea to get water from the sea that has too much water instead of from the river that has too little. San Diego’s Carlsbad Desalinization Plant is not only a nice start, but is also the biggest in the Americas so far as I know. It takes a lot of energy to get the salt out, though. Solar helps, and will probably help more as its cost comes down. That should motivate more groups besides the artsy-craftsy crowd at Carlsbad to see the light. It might even be enough to get the three of us on the same page.

And by the way, Sine, it’s not just a southwest USA problem. You’re the one that told me how China’s biggest (1,737 square miles) freshwater Lake Poyang has shrunk to less than 10 % (ahead of schedule to 124 square miles) from industrial use and diversion to the River Yangze (that’s getting dammed you said). Dammed in more ways than one, if you ask me.

SINE

You could take that one step farther with the Cafe: Put zicai on the menu.

AURA

Zicai . . . ?

SINE

Seaweed, like everybody in China eats. Then you don't need fresh water to grow food on land.

AURA

You mean like sushi?

SINE

Sushi is Japanese, not in China. But Japanese wrap sushi in seaweed. Seaweed vitamin B-12 is good for brain.

AURA

Good for the River too. I'll try that. Sushi is getting popular around here.

Carlsbad desalinization plant

Lake Poyang