Drought can feel overwhelming or scary at times, because water is so important and necessary for us all. The good news is that there are many actions we can take to help prevent and manage drought. Here are some inspiring actions from people across the country!
Inspiring actions were compiled by undergraduate interns as part of the New York Drought Summit project.
Born and raised in Southwest Colorado, McAfee has been trying to save his family’s ranch and not cash out due to degraded land and lowered yields. With the planting of native and introduced grasses and regenerative grazing, his ranch has little wind erosion and water runoff. These drought-resistant practices have proven to be effective.
Read more here.
Growing up in drought-affected Reno, Nevada, Tinajero was concerned by her high school’s outdated toilets and faucets which constantly leaked water. She sent a $12,000 grant proposal to the nonprofit, Growing Resources of Environmental Education in Nevada, and was awarded it in 2011 to install low flush toilets, auto-sensor lights and automatic hand dryers and faucets – all drought friendly technology!
Read more here.
Florida is full of water intensive green lawns, and Jackson wanted to do something about it. His quarter-acre yard has over 34 native Florida plant species which helps to reduce his water consumption because “once established, they require no supplemental watering as they are adapted to Florida’s climate,” Jackson said. They also help to support pollinators and birds.
Read more here.
Sarson installed a 1,300 gallon rainwater tank in her backyard to cover the 20 gallons a day each of her family members uses. She also harvests grey water from her laundry machine and shower to keep her backyard garden alive. These drought saving efforts are also helping to cut down on costs for Sarson and her family.
Disclaimer: Greywater and rainwater harvesting laws are different in each state, so make sure to check for any policies regarding your area.
Read more here.
Assistant professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute and senior research associate at Cornell University, Catalá identified genes involved in the “water stress response” in tomatoes. This means she and her team can select candidate genes that could help the tomatoes to adapt to growing in drought conditions. Additionally, they can “train” the tomatoes to be more drought resistant by stressing seedling roots and teaching them to recover. These scientific findings look to be applicable to more than just tomatoes, but to other fleshy fruits like grapes and apples.
Read more here.