CNN and the Associated Press have consistently published the drama unfolding in Georgia through several articles and news casts, however, the impact of the photos that could have accompanied their article(s) would have allowed the reader/viewer to truly appreciate the extent and actual impact of the drought, not necessarily on power plants downriver, nor muscles that could be endangered in Florida, or even old foundations

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CNN and the Associated Press have consistently published the drama unfolding in Georgia through several articles and news casts, however, the impact of the photos that could have accompanied their article(s) would have allowed the reader/viewer to truly appreciate the extent and actual impact of the drought, not necessarily on power plants downriver, nor muscles that could be endangered in Florida, or even old foundations and debris that are popping-up - but how this event is impacting the residents that actually live close to Lake Lanier. The CNN article is informative and also has an interactive page attached, so I’m choosing their most recent publication to demonstrate that indeed, a picture is worth a thousands words - and the drought in Georgia is actually worse than CNN’s photos indicate:

History comes to light as lake falls

* Roads, buildings, raceway among things revealed as lake recedes
* Georgia’s Lake Lanier 19 feet below normal
* Lakeside residents cleaning cars, trash from lake floor

GAINESVILLE, Georgia (AP) — The acres of drying mud that span much of what once was Lake Lanier jolt to a stop at a bend, where a concrete foundation appears as a sudden reminder of life before the lake.

As a record drought continues to take its toll on the lake that supplies more than 3 million residents with water in metro Atlanta, the receding shore line is revealing more than antique beer cans and other assorted garbage.

Copyrighted Image? DMCA

An abandoned stretch of Georgia Highway 53 sits along one edge of the lake, consigned to the deep by state planners when Lanier was built. Foundations of long-forgotten buildings dot shorelines. Elsewhere in the vast expanse of exposed lake bed, a still intact one-lane road with faded yellow lines peeks out from the mud. MORE

Stating the lake is ninety feet below average levels and showing a couple of photos of recently exposed trees and foundation does not realistically show the impact to the residents of the lake, nor take into account the huge financial losses this drought will impose on the local areas is likely to represent millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. When you look at the lake from the perspective of the homeowners who heavily dot the shoreline, what would it feel like to look out your back door and witness the result of global warming’s direct impact - and these people don’t have to wait 10 to 20 years to understand that this drought, if it doesn’t end soon, will equate to countless millions of dollars in property depreciation, and the satellite businesses that depend on tourism, fishing, marinas, and boat sales that are now an inherent part of the local economy.

When I attempted to change the size of these pictures, too much was lost in the transition; I apologize for the inconvenience, but to appreciate these photos, you will have to click on each individual link.

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Yes, as the above photo indicates, some areas of the lake are completely dry now; to grasp how far the lake has actually receded, please note the previous shoreline that is marked on the middle-left by the Georgia red clay. When you take into consideration that Lake Lanier used to have 692 miles of shoreline, even my few photos do not reveal the broader picture until you understand that I only ventured a few miles from home to take these pictures… and what lies in other areas I can only speculate upon, however, this effect is generally considered to be lake-wide.

Lake Sidney Lanier

Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the most-visited US Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the country, is nestled in the foothills of northeast Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Just 30 minutes northeast of Atlanta, Lake Lanier offers the adventure of fishing, boating, sailing, water sports, golf, resort vacations, horseback riding, hiking, camping, lakeside dining and wildlife.

Lake Lanier Information

Boating on Lake Lanier’s 692 miles of shoreline meander past picturesque parks, picnic areas and campgrounds. Lakeside camping at US Army Corps of Engineers Parks, plus well-appointed accommodations at Lake Lanier Island’s Emerald Point Hotel and Renaissance Pine Isle on the southeast side of the lake offer many options for enjoying all that Lake Lanier offers for an overnight stay, a long weekend or a week-long vacation.

The area is served by I-85, I-985 and GA 400, with easy access to the lake.

(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

More than 8 million visitors choose Lake Lanier for weekend getaways, daytrips and extended vacations. It has been called the Crown Jewel of US Army Corps of Engineers lakes. MORE

For those in the southwest, Lake Mead, albeit much deeper than Lake Lanier, has 550 miles of shoreline when the lake is full compared to Lanier’s 692 miles - and the shoreline of Lake Mead is not populated extensively like that of Lake Lanier. It’s noteworthy to add that Lakes Mead is also at “drought level.” LINK
Lake Powell in Utah, which has over 2,000 miles of shoreline is also at an extremely low level. LINK

Drop into the Mid-west, America’s breadbasket, and another story is unfolding, one that could affect the entire United States, especially as it impacts our ability to produce food:

Alteration in Timing and Amount of Water

Water supply, demand, allocation, storage, and quality are all climate-sensitive issues affecting the regional economy. Farming and ranching use over 50% of the region’s water resources. Ground-water pumping for irrigation has depleted aquifers in portions of the Great Plains by withdrawing water much faster than it can be recharged. Under today’s irrigation demands, water table levels are thus dropping in parts of the southern Great Plains. The projected climate-induced changes in water resources are likely to exacerbate the current competition for water among the agricultural sector, natural ecosystems, and urban, industrial, and recreational users.

The region produces much of the nation’s grain, meat, and fiber, including over 60% of the wheat, 87% of the sorghum, and 36% of the cotton. The region is home to over 60% of the nation’s livestock, including both grazing and grain-fed-cattle operations. Recreation, wildlife habitat, and water resources are also found on the landscapes of the Great Plains. The Prairie Pothole region provides important habitat for migratory waterfowl. Surface water in rivers, streams, and lakes, and groundwater in aquifers provide water for urban, industrial, and agricultural uses, as well as riparian and aquatic ecosystems. Soil organic matter is a major resource of the Great Plains as it provides improved soil water retention, soil fertility, and long-term storage of carbon. MUCH MORE

This story began with the drought in Georgia, but when I stared delving into Lanier’s size and used Lake Mead for comparison, I noted the drought conditions there, the level of Lake Powell, and then checked on the aquifers that supply the Mid-west, and from those observations, it becomes obvious drought has become a national issue that our government is failing to prioritize. We need to look to the future, determine how we will survive in a world that is changing by the day - and instead of making war, we need to be concentrating on desalinization plants to help a growing population cope with a water fresh water supply that is dwindling on a global basis.

True disaster preparedness, depending on where you live, is also insuring that your family has enough water; no matter how much food you store, water is the essential ingredient to everything we do; ignoring climate change and the consequences associated with failing to prepare are events that will eventually threaten millions of Americans as well as the entire global community. Everyone’s concerned with the price of oil and how we will handle the future’s energy needs, and that’s well and good, but what good is oil if we don’t have enough water to drink and irrigate our crops? What then?

Food prices are soaring globally because of drought and crop losses. Nations around the world are stopping exports of food because they can’t grow enough of their own. Millions face starvation. America’s farmers are going bankrupt because of the high costs of fuel and fertilizer. Combined with drought, they are quitting or being shut down in droves. The United States now has less then 46 days of food on hand for every man, woman and child in this country. This is an unheard of historic low.

Global demand for grain has caused wheat futures to rocket past gold. Wheat was a far better investment then gold in 2007, shooting up 110%, whereas gold rose only 40%. LINK The situation is far more serious than Americans are led to believe, and hopefully, the devastation captured in the recent photos of Lake Lanier will help to visually shock those who are lulled into complacency by the MSM posting pictures that are certainly true - but tend to minimize the reality of how this drought is virtually wrecking havoc on Lake Lanier.

The war we should be fighting is the coming disaster we could help to mitigate if we would begin to prepare, and for that, we need leadership that looks out for the welfare of the people, not their corporate masters. The upcoming Presidential elections represent more than politics; choosing the right candidate and bringing forth issues central to America’s survival in the upcoming debates and the eventual election represent our ability to survive as a people, and for this reason alone, partisan politics have no place in this election! It’s time to demand truth and accountability, bring forth the issues that affect the nation’s survivability factor in the face of catastrophic climate change - and work to forge a future that will prepare us for a world that is changing far quicker than anyone predicted.

William Cormier

Peace And Mitigating Climate Change Are More Profitable Than War

Authors Bio:

My Bio is as varied as my life. In 2012, my twin sons murdered a Journalist in Pensacola, Fl., for 100K worth of "Magic The Gathering" playing cards and buried the body in my backyard. I was once a regular writer here, but PTSD from my son's actions took their toll. First, I lost everything I had. Second, I lost my fiancee. Third, I almost lost my life. Recovery has been a hard and lonesome road, and it isn't quite over yet. I will overcome this disaster as I have others, and return to college to resume my quest to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.

Admittedly, I have chosen to get back in the mix and do my duty to help destroy any chance that Trump may have of being elected to a second term.