Published by the US Department of Agriculture, this is the most recent report on climate change issued by a federal agency--and it might be the most sobering. This peer-reviewed report "focuses on the next 25 to 50 years, and finds that climate change is already affecting U.S. water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so." Most of these effects are negative and will very likely result in ecological and economic consequences for years to come.

To write the report, 38 expert authors synthesized existing data and research efforts of 13 federal agencies, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and other publications concerning climate science and its impacts. While most of the conclusions regarding water resources are cause for concern, the authors do conclude that, "Declining per capita (and, for some cases, total) water consumption will help mitigate the impacts of climate change on water resources," which means there is no time like the present to start demanding stronger water conservation, efficiency and reuse programs from our local utilities and policy makers. To view the full report, click here or on the image below.