Morgan Heim's Image

Morgan Heim (USA) rushes to catch the fading light after spotting a ditch in the wetlands gushing with groundwater.

Morgan captured this image to highlight the ongoing water crisis in the Klamath Basin, spanning California and Oregon. It is symbolic of a bigger issue that could become more frequent around the world- who gets water when there is not enough to go around?

In the summer of 2021, a severe drought hit this vast wetland system. The US federal government cut off irrigation to farmers to conserve water in rivers that supported endangered salmon and many other fish. Wells ran dry, as did the nearby Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge - a stopover for millions of birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway. Tensions flared among communities trying to survive.

How you can help

• Increasing global temperatures are intensifying droughts worldwide. Taking actions to reduce global warming, such as reducing your energy use and shopping locally, will have a positive long-term impact.
• Try to buy foods and materials that don't need as much water to grow. Vegetables require much less water than animal products, such as meat and dairy. Organic cotton uses less water to grow than conventionally grown cotton.
• Make an effort to reduce your water use. Take shorter showers or install a water butt to collect rainwater for use outdoors.