World's rivers running on empty, paper finds

World’s rivers running on empty, paper finds

November 26, 2012 – ENVIRONMENT – Four of the world’s great rivers, including the Murray Darling, are all suffering from drastically reduced flows as a direct result of water extraction, according to new ANU research. A multi-author study – led by ANU researchers Professor Quentin Grafton, Dr Jamie Pittock, Professor Tom Kompas and Dr Daniel Connell of the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University – examined the threats from water extractions and climate change on four of the world’s iconic river systems; the US Colorado River, the South African Orange River, the Chinese Yellow River and the Murray. The researchers found that in all four basins, over a long period of time, outflows have greatly reduced as a direct result of increased water extractions, and that urgent changes in governance of water are needed to ensure the systems remain healthy and viable. “While climate change will aggravate changes in flows in river systems, current high levels of water extractions remain the principal contributor to reduced flows and degradation of these rivers,” said Dr Pittock. “Changes in governance, including sharing the variability between the environment and consumptive users, are urgently required if the health of these rivers is to be maintained,” added Dr Connell. The researchers said that the key to securing the future of the world’s rivers lies in plans to share water use between users and the environment, and water markets to manage allocations. They added that, although the management of the Murray Darling Basin was favourable when compared to other places in the world, there was much more that could be done to ensure a healthy future for the system. “Many sound frameworks are being established in water management throughout the world, but in many cases their implementation needs to be greatly improved,” said Professor Kompas. “Stronger action is needed to ensure that in dry times, the rivers get a fair share of the available water,” said Dr Pittock. –Physics

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4 Responses to World’s rivers running on empty, paper finds

PKK says:

November 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm

Hi Alvin,
I just saw Extinction Protocol listed on an alternative news site as a blog that gives “disinformation” as to our environmental debacle. Its listed this way because the writer says you won’t tell people about “Nibiru” or planet X as the real cause behind all the world’s physical trauma. Would you let your readers know again why you think the planet X story is false. I think your thoughts on the subject would be very wise and helpful. Blessings, Paula

- The Extinction Protocol says:
  
  November 26, 2012 at 10:27 pm
  
  Sorry, I have no thoughts on the subject and don’t spend my time responding to what people perceive to think of me based on their own agendas.
  
- mtnwolf63 says:
  
  November 28, 2012 at 4:07 am
  
  I know the site you mean, the mods on that site are some of the nastiest people I’ve ever encountered on the internet. They seem to have lost most of their subscribers, they barely get one post a day anymore. Their supposed photos of Planet X near the Sun are very obviously lens flares. But if anyone questions it, they get suspended. I do find it amusing, however, that site was singled out by NASA for ridicule. They must have ruffled some feathers. It was a good site a few years ago, they really helped raise awareness on many key issues. But somewhere along the line they went out to lunch and never came back.
  
Skeptical Citizen says:

November 27, 2012 at 12:00 pm

The article seems to try and place 99% of the blame on mans activities. (current high levels of extraction?) the colorado river has no outflow it simply dissappears into the ground. Water extracted and used for making & growning things isnt being wasted or squandered. Its simple some times you dont get enough rain and there is less water and at others you get plenty and sometimes you get too much. Nothing abnormal there is no great environmental disaster. and compared to the great clatyclismic end of an age earth changes we are now having & will continue to experience its a non issue.