It isn’t missing – it’s been reallocated
The definition of a crisis depends on the who, what, when, where and why of a situation. Basic journalism has always known this. Drought, famine, pestilence; all have characteristics that identify the monster under a particular bed. This morning, the news brought up one that most of us never think about; the decreasing water levels in our Great Lakes. I realize we share them with the neighbour, but that’s a detail. Or is it?
First of all, the lower water level affect more than the kids at the beach or the gang on their personal water devices. Some of the big lake freighters are close to dragging their lower parts on the bottom, and as the captain knows, that just isn’t a good idea. Try to picture yourself in the bathtub. All warm and wet, with the particular parts nicely submerged. Now, have someone drain out some of the water. See what I mean? The bottom hasn’t budged, but what used to be wet and warm is now otherwise. When you look at the lakes on a map, the variation in water level isn’t part of the picture. Stand around by the canal locks to see the difference. Or, do as I did and check out the web. Historical graphs of water levels are available, and there have always been fluctuations. It’s the term mean datum that gives pause.
Now, when a large amount of water “goes missing”, it can be due to a number of factors. Global warming. Siphoning by alien waterbombers from a distant galaxy. Misdirection into a great river system or two by the people in charge of reallocation. Whatever, we have issues. If the freighters must be lightened, that means that less cargo for you and me is loaded aboard, and the cost of transport rises as a function of the falling levels, and in the end, so does the price that is charged to you and me. I’m cheap-minded, and it would please me greatly if the lake levels returned to the old high water marks. Smaller beaches, perhaps. Less grounded freighters, for sure. Let’s close the “flood gates” and let the rivers fend for themselves. Is anyone listening?
