User:Rhearth/sandbox

Heavy precipitation and flooding
In the state of Michigan there are over 11,000 lakes that are 5 acres or larger. With this much water in the state, Michigan is more susceptible to flooding. "Changing the climate is likely to increase the frequency of floods in Michigan. Over the last half century, average annual precipitation in most of the Midwest has increased by 5 to 10 percent. But rainfall during the four wettest days of the year has increased about 35 percent. During the next century, spring rainfall and annual precipitation are likely to increase, and severe rainstorms are likely to intensify. Each of these factors will tend to further increase the risk of flooding". Michigan recorded an annual average of two or more inches of rain during a period of just over one day. This is significant as it is more rain days per year than when record-keeping began in 1900. Climate change could potentially increase the occurrence of 100-year floods. This is significant because 100-year floods are major floods that have a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year. Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula could see an increase of 25 to 500 present increase of 100- year floods from 2040 to 2060 compared to those seen from 1950 to 2000.

2.6 million people in Michigan get their drinking water from private wells located at their household. These types of wells are not regulated to maximum standards. Extreme rainfall can affect these private wells, which threatens the safety of many individuals’ drinking water. When private wells experience heavy rain, they can trigger extensive runoff. Extensive runoff can lead to bacterial contamination which aren’t normally treated. It is generally the responsibility of the home owner to be aware of contamination. With the potential of more floods, it is posing a threat to Michigan’s agricultural industry resulting in loss of crop production and delaying when farmers can plant their fields.