Thoughts on the 2010 Census results

Now that the results of the 2010 Census are in and there has been time to reflect on what they mean, I see a gloomy prospect for the environment.  The national population is 308.7 million, up from 284.1 million just 10 years ago.  The population of Texas grew over 20% to just over 25 million.

My concerns stem directly from the increased need for water and power.  The EPA has recently taken over the issuing of carbon emission permits from the state of Texas because we have been handing them out like beads at a Mardi Gras party.

Texas already has the dirtiest lignite power plants in the country.  One of these is unfortunately located just a few miles from my house, the Martin Lake Plant, and it is THE worst mercury emitter in the country.  Our area lakes all contain elevated levels of mercury, and I personally wouldn't eat fish out of any of them. This includes my most loved local place to photograph - Caddo Lake.

Texas is already short of fresh water.  The large metropolitan areas are trying to build reservoirs anywhere there is a trickle of running water.  The city of Marshall has attempted, so far without success, to take water from Caddo Lake which averages only about 3 feet in depth.  Any sustained water removal would be devastating to this ecological treasure.

So, my point in all this is that our environmental problems are not going to be solved until we solve the over population problem, both locally and world-wide.  The Earth just can not support 7 Billion people.

Just my thoughts...