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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Too Dry!

Farmer Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling, Colorado, watched his wheat field turn brown this summer. Because of the drought, "we won't have any corn or sunflower harvest," he says.

All across the country, Americans are being choked by the worst drought anyone can remember. A drought occurs when a region, or area, gets less rain than usual. As a result, water supplies fall short.

Farmers and ranchers can't stay in business without water for crops and animals. The pain of drought hits them hard. "The damage is done," says Peter Furey of the New Jersey Farm Bureau. "Some of these crops are not coming back."

Don't Waste Water!
Over the past few months, many states have declared water emergencies. In some places, you can't wash a car, fill a pool or water a lawn!

Experts say that if we save more water, we will be able to make it through droughts. Americans use 27 billion gallons of water each day. Not all of that water is used wisely. Farmers near Durango, Colorado, don't have water for their crops. But in town, water sprinklers keep a golf course bright green!

If we want to avoid water shortages, we will have to change our wasteful ways.

Next: We Remember