Industrial agriculture consumes increasing amounts of freshwater (Figure 3). Humans now consume about half of the earth's available freshwater, and 70 percent of that goes to agriculture. When irrigation removes too much water from rivers, streams, and wetlands, habitat for fish and wildlife is depleted or destroyed. In the eighteen U.S. states that depend most on irrigation, 70 percent of the water flowing in streams and rivers has been depleted. Dams and the destruction of aquatic habitat have played a part in severely reducing populations of Pacific Coast salmon as
Figure 3
Global Irrigation 1960-2000
Figure 3
well as steelhead and cutthroat trout in the northwestern United States.
Was this article helpful?
Do You Want To Learn More About Green Living That Can Save You Money? Discover How To Create A Worm Farm From Scratch! Recycling has caught on with a more people as the years go by. Well, now theres another way to recycle that may seem unconventional at first, but it can save you money down the road.
Post a comment