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What
are my risks?
How
does drought affect me in the short-term?
Droughts
increase the potential for wildland
fires.
Farmers,
cattle ranchers, and people using water catchment systems
are the most severely affected by drought.
Big
Island papaya grower William Julian stands near some of
his drought-damaged trees. The trees have fruit now, but
Julian predicts that in five months they will produce
75 percent less fruit. Click
here to read the full article from the Star Bulletin.
Photo
by Rod Thompson,
Courtesy of the Star-Bulletin
How
does drought affect me in the medium-term?
Drought
exacerbates the problem of ensuring a sustainable yield
of potable water. Since Hawaii is an island state, this
is particularly critical. Failure to take appropriate
action could result in Hawaii not having sufficient quantity
and quality of water resources to sustain future population
and industry.
The
State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
has estimated that within 25 years groundwater on Oahu
will have to be supplemented with other sources to keep
up with the demand.
Source:
Drought and Wildland Fire Mitigation Plan, Department
of Defense, Civil Defense Division, Dec 1998.
Oahu’s
Most Severe Droughts
Droughts
have impacted almost every island in Hawaii with the most
severe ones in the past 15 years associated with the El
Nino phenomenon. During the El Nino years, droughts have
occurred during the winter-spring period.
|
YEAR
|
REMARKS
|
| 1953
|
Rainfall 40% less than normal |
| 1975 |
Worst drought for sugar plantations in 15 years. |
| 1976-77
|
Oahu
residents asked to reduce water consumption by 10%
|
|
2000 |
Oahu
residents asked to reduce water consumption by 10%
|
Source:
State Department of Land and Natural Resources, National
Weather Service, State Civil Defense Division
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