Water from spring snowmelt rushes down mountain drainage in the Sierra Nevada in California. Much of this water will eventually find its way to reservoirs, then to treatment plants, and finally to homes, farms and businesses. With more than 1, 000 centimetres of snow falling in many western U.S. mountains each year, snowmelt is an important source of water here, and for some cities, nearly the only source. Unfortunately, global warming is causing reductions in the amount of snow that falls in many ranges, and an earlier snowmelt as well, resulting in reduced water supplies. |