In this section Pearce discusses the water usage in the western United States and at the southern U.S. border. He notes that the heavily subsidized farming industry in these regions grow “thirsty” crops like cotton and alfalfa, which require higher than average amounts of water, and furthermore, that the farms are heavily subsidized by the U.S. government. I found it interesting that Pearce alleges these subsidies lead to increased wastefulness in terms of water usage. I was also surprised to learn of the apparently bleak condition of the Rio Grande River, due to massive levels of over extraction and pollution. In addition, the role of snowpack in feeding California’s rivers and lakes was something I had not been previously aware of, and learning about how the long drought irreparably damaged the state’s aquifers such that they are unlikely to ever retain the amount of water they once could was deeply concerning. The part discussing Las Vegas’ successful implementation of water conservation policies was one hopeful note in the section.
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