It's Dry

     

     We are experiencing drought conditions over a large area. Westerners thought they had the problem solved by building a system of dams to prevent water from flowing away downriver, but growing demands from growing cities and agricultural use on those reservoirs have  depleted much of that supply. Just yesterday a recent article stated “The West’s second-largest reservoir could be at risk of losing the ability to generate hydropower.” To fill it again officials are releasing water from reservoirs upstream in the Colorado River in an effort to keep Lake Powell full enough to continue providing power. 

     Closer to home dry pastures speak for themselves along with fewer hay bales, and shorter heads on wheat. Geologists have been telling us for years that underground aquifers have started depleting, so punching holes in the ground for additional irrigation water will not be a long term solution.  

     Little to nothing can be done about dry wells except perhaps hold a rain dance. Maybe there is a place for water witchers or dowsers to find some hidden supplies. Not everyone can do this. My dad had the touch, but try as I did, nothing happened for me. There were a couple times I asked him to demonstrate. He said, “Go cut a forked willow

stick.” He’d place each end of the fork in a kind of underhanded grip and begin walking slowly. (see picture) Sure enough, whenever he reached a certain place the pointed end began  bending down to the source and almost twist out of his hands. He said there were other methods, too, and mentioned Bill Dunnell who showed him to tie a .22 bullet on a string, hold it down inside a water glass, count the number of times it struck the side, and pronounce that’s how many feet down you’ll find water.

     The name for this is water witching, emphasis on the word “witch.” The term originated in the 17th century when it was deemed to be witchcraft. Indeed, any scientific basis is denied by present day professional hydrologists. Thinking about this came to me after reading the recent New York Times article, “Two Rods and a ‘Sixth Sense’: In Drought, Water Witches are Swamped.” The sub-title reads, “Amid California’s drought, desperate landowners and managers are turning to those who practice an ancient, disputed method for locating water.”

     The author of the article featured one witch or dowser or diviner who said he’s never been so busy being called by land owners even though the National Ground Water Association has stated the practice is “totally without scientific merit.” But he has clients who swear he is successful in finding water. Of course there are those who charge that he just got lucky. 

     There’s even a poem written 500 years ago by Sir Philip Sidney called “The Diviner.”

Cut from the green hedge a forked hazel stick

That he held tight by the arms of the V:

Circling the terrain, hunting the pluck

Of water, nervous but professionally

Unfussed. The pluck came sharp as a sting.

The rod jerked with precise convulsions,

Spring water suddenly broadcasting

Through a green hazel its secret stations.

The bystanders would ask to have a try.

He handed them the rod without a word.

It lay dead in their grasp till nonchalantly

He gripped expectant wrists. The hazel stirred.