Naples and other Florida cities are debating water restrictions. Birds and other wildlife in the Everglades National Park are suffering in a parched ecosystem that already is the subject of an intensive restoration following decades of water diversion by Big Sugar and other farm interests. Tucson is especially vulnerable. Its water utility started in the 19th century by delivering bags of spring water by burro to the barrios and mining camps. La Nina complicates everything we're doing.
Circumstances are no better for farmers.
The same is true for crop processors and farm suppliers. Farmers aren't very mobile. The drought is raising immediate dangers, too. Thousands of forest and range fires have been sparked since February, prompting federal officials to redeploy crews, tanker planes and funding from the wet North to the dry South. We're in very dangerous, high-burn conditions,'' said state Fire Services deputy chief Frank Pocica.