Los Angeles Facing Environmental Double Whammy

Water has played a starring part in the development of Los Angeles (for exhibit A, see the film Chinatown). Christine MacDonald explores how water may take a star turn once again, in its demise.

1 minute read

February 26, 2012, 1:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

Angelenos surely hope that the climate change induced scenario described by MacDonald isn't the bookending sequal to the story of the founding of Los Angeles featured in the film Chinatown.

According to MacDonald, "Not only do scientists predict that rising sea levels will increase the likelihood of coastal flooding there, but also that rising temperatures will threaten the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which provides about a third of the drinking water used by the L.A. Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility."

Luckily, city officials aren't standing pat. MacDonald reports on the efforts of the mayor's office and the city's water department to plan mitigation measures for these future problems.

FULL STORY: How Climate Change Could Be the Ruin of Los Angeles

Friday, February 24, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

Infrastructure California Water Climate Change Los Angeles Rising Sea Levels View More

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