“Where does all the water go?” That was a question I got last night from a kid at my book talk about western U.S. water to an amazing audience, young and old.

If you’re paying attention to the future of western water, and its main lifeline, the Colorado (you should as it supports over 12% of the U.S. GDP and it’s facing a crisis) here is where the biggest gulp goes. Agriculture. And not family farms. Roughly 30% of the river goes to industrialized alfalfa exports overseas — to China, Saudi Arabia and more. And most is grown in the Imperial Valley and fed by the All American canal.

That is right, one of the thirstiest forage crops is getting grown to ship abroad during one of our thirstiest, driest moments in recorded history.

Something to sip on this lovely #worldwaterday

We will be forced to ask for less, like it or not, so it’s good to become more aware of our most precious limited resource - fresh water.

Water is life and it comes from snowpacks, creeks and rivers long before it arrives at our taps.

To learn more about my twenty-year journey documenting the Colorado River’s plight, check out my new book - #WitenesstoWater at link in bio.

Or check out my talks this week with @paoniabooks and @alpenglowbookstore

Thanks @lennecefer and @kevinfedarkoauthor for the guest insights.

📷 #petemcbride Imperial Valley ...

My favorite of nature’s Red Carpet poses — King Penguins in South Georgia Island.

Who wore it better - mom or chic (#5)?

The king penguin colony still takes the best original score and song for their choir performance. Tune to follow.

Excited to share moments like this in the backstories of my Witness to Water book talk this Saturday with @acesaspen at @wheeleropera. All students free.

#penguins #nature #wild
📷 #petemcbride ...

I’m honored my @sciencemagazine cover image about our changing Polar Worlds won an honorable nod by @nppa for best magazine cover.

Here are a few frames from our frozen realm at the bottom of the world.

And here is what I wrote for the cover caption.
“When icy winds subside on the Fish Islands on the west coast of Graham Land, there are moments of blissful stillness away from the bustle of the world to the north. Nonetheless, the industrialized busyness beyond is quietly melting this frozen realm. The Antarctica Peninsula is facing some of the highest temperature increases on the planet.”

Thanks for the cover edit Charles! Congrats!

#photography #nature #antarctica

📷 #petemcbride ...