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CNN Live Today

Dry Weather Hits West

Aired July 22, 2002 - 11:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks to this unusually dry spell that's been hitting much of the country -- and it's because it's one of the worst wildfire seasons on record -- you know, government weather experts say 49 states are suffering from a lack of rainfall. And that is causing a lot of complications out there.

CNN's Kimberly Osias joins us now. She's in Frisco, Colorado, today to talk about the drought and how it's affecting people out there.

Hi -- Kim.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon.

As you well know, there are mandatory water restrictions here in the West and in many parts of the United States right now. That's because we are amidst a very, very significant drought. And you can tell: This lake around me used to be completely full of water; believe it or not, I am sitting on a marina. Boaters used to pump gas out of this gasoline tank here. And of course, nobody's doing that right now, because there's no water to be had in these slips. But of course, if you've got to landscape in this stuff, you can imagine it's even much more of a challenge. So people have got to get creative.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS (voice-over): You may not find it listed in Webster's; it's a rough concept to grasp.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have no idea. I've never heard the word.

OSIAS: Try spelling it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Zeroescaping": Z-E-R-O-S-C-A-P-I-N-G.

OSIAS: Actually, it X-E-R-I-S-C-A-P-I-N-G. And just what the heck does that mean?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's using natural plants that grow in the area for the conditions.

OSIAS: It's a term created by the folks at Denver Water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason we promote Xeriscape here is that only have about 12 to 15 inches of moisture a year.

OSIAS: Here's how it works: Create practical turf areas; systematically place flowers that require more water at the bottom of a slope -- this will use gravity and mulch to keep soil cool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Xeriscape because we are going through a drought.

OSIAS: The result is not all rocks and cactus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Xeriscape is more than yuccas. Xeriscape is not yucky. Xeriscape can be beautiful.

OSIAS: Just look at these colors: not what you'd typically see in arid desert climates.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I get pretty daisies that are pink and yellow, and my garden has an international flare.

OSIAS: Gardening this way allows your landscape to flourish and your conscious to rest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a issue this year perhaps because people really realize that we are a dry climate and we do have a drought year. Xeriscape would probably be a good thing to have in your garden already in place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS: Let's take a live look now at Dillon Reservoir. Where the camera sits is an old highway. It hasn't been used since the '60s, since the reservoir was actually built here. It's quite significant because, of course, since then, no car has been upon it, no camera, nothing; that's because it's been completely underwater, very well preserved, which is a good thing, but a bad thing -- and it is a very, very visual and startling recognition of exactly how bad this drought is -- Leon.

HARRIS: Perfect case of a picture being worth at least 1,000 words there.

Kimberly Osias, thanks, Kim -- we appreciate that.

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