Reno Reporter

A state climatologist is offering insight into what makes Nevada such a drought-stricken area.

The state has been in a severe drought since late 2019 and it’s the driest state in the country, according to a news release from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Steph McAfee, an associate professor in the UNR Department of Geography, said the state needs to find new solutions for the impending water crisis.

“We’re pretty good at handling drought in Nevada,” McAfee said. “We have a lot of practice. But we’re probably going to be moving into a future where we need to get even better at dealing with it, where droughts are going to be more common and more severe.”

Droughts in Nevada are happening more often and becoming more severe in the process, which leaves less water as it evaporates quickly from bodies of water, according to the release. With the state having an extended growing season because of high temperatures, plants are requiring more water.

“If you live in Reno, a lot of your water comes from the Sierra Nevada,” McAfee said. “Your water is rainfall; it falls as snow. If you live in the more rural parts of the state, you’re more likely to rely on groundwater.”

Groundwater might seem like a great place to pull from, but it takes a lot longer to be replenished than reservoirs, sometimes thousands of years, the release stated.

McAfee said the best time to think of a solution is when you’re experiencing a drought.

“People can be generally water smart in Nevada to reduce water waste,” McAfee said. “These are things that most Nevadans probably do anyway.”

McAfee suggests finding out what, if any, water restrictions people may be asked to follow, and following them. This might involve reaching out to a landlord for renters. He also recommends watering plants later in the evening or first thing in the morning when it’s cooler and covering pools when not in use to help water prevent evaporation.