Go West!

That was the cry of early US settlers once the passes through the rockies to the green and pleasant California lands were opened. Well, those green and pleasant lands appear to be fast becoming a barren desert.

This, from the Guardian, reports on the Californian wild fires and what is likely to be the main underlying problem, a distinct lack of rainfall (and snowfall) and rapidly falling man-made reservoir and natural aquifer levels. It does not point directly at climate change, but to the fact that this part of the world is arid by nature, and man's continued excessive use of available water supplies is depleting what is already a scarce resource.

"The people who move to the west today need to realise they're moving into a desert. If they want to live in a desert, they have to adapt to a desert lifestyle."

I think I'll stay put in cold and damp Shropshire!

Meanwhile, Australians are also suffering from appalling drought problems. This from NineMSM caught my notice, not least because I have a 'Drizabone' golf waterproof outfit, and brilliant it is too, but it looks like the bottom has rather fallen out of their outback market.

"with farmers telling of toddlers outgrowing their gum boots before needing them and their cattle becoming skittish at the unaccustomed pitter-patter of rain on their backs, Drizabone days are now scarce".

Now this article does point directly at climate change. Interesting to note that the Australian government is now offering large grants to farmers to leave the land as the billabongs slowly disappear!