Climate change has impacted BrownStone Chinooks directly. What was a continually flowing spring since recorded history, has dried up. This property was an early homestead because of the reliable water source. The warmer, drier climate has also killed hundreds of old growth trees on the ridge behind the house that were the storage of the water that fed the spring. Since June, water has been sporadic, with several days without any household water at all. The large pond in front of the house is 6' lower due to the lack on in-source water. Normally it is down a couple feet because of using it for irrigation. This summer I withheld the irrigation and much of the landscaping has died as a result.
The three days of light rain we had a few weeks ago is no longer helping the spring. This weekend the water dried up again. The huge containers of water by all the sinks are once again being put into use. The weather remains dry and cold. Nights are below freezing and the days are glorious with fall colors. Sunrise and sunsets are spectacular due to smoke from the horrible forest fires in California. Another glitch in the drought is that the geo-thermal heat pump system has quit. With too little water in the pond and the below freezing night temps, the heat source coils have frozen.
No heat. No water. Good thing I have heat seeking fur kids to keep me warm at night...
and company during the day.
Notice there is not a lot of extra room on either the couch or bed. But they are warm.
