[Alberta's Child]

I saw a fascinating article last year about the water problems in the western U.S. There is some speculation that the main culprit in declining flowrates in some rivers is not global warming, but excessive tree growth on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Moisture that used to run off these slopes is now being retained in the soil by vegetation that is thicker now than it ever has been.

[cogitator]

There is some speculation that the main culprit in declining flowrates in some rivers is not global warming, but excessive tree growth on the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

This article indicates that the effect on snowpack in the Rockies would be minimal from global warming; but if the factor you indicate is also happening, then that would affect the central-western states, and the decline in snowpack would affect the far western states. Not a good picture either way.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Wouldnt doubt it, for the air to get over the mountains it has to dump its moisture somewhere...hey had any good Chinooks latelly? My mother-in-law is freezing her backside off in OLDS...

Later