The Colorado River provides drinking water to over 36 million people , irrigates over 4 million acres of farmland, supports a $26 billion water-based recreation economy, and sustains 30 endemic fish species and the remaining riparian habitat of the Pacific Flyway.
How does the Colorado River impact people?
The Colorado River supports $1.4 trillion in annual economic activity and 16 million jobs in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. ... If just 10% of the river’s water were unavailable for people, we would see a loss of $143 billion in economic activity and 1.6 million jobs in just one year.
Is the Colorado River affected by humans?
Nature, Not Humans , Has Greater Influence on Water in the Colorado River Basin. Researchers have found that the water supply of the Colorado River basin, a vital source of water in the Southwest, is influenced more by wet-dry periods than by human use, which has been stable during past decades.
Why are people worried about the Colorado River?
Climate change, extended drought and overuse have chipped away at levels in the river , making it harder for Colorado and other upper-basin states to uphold their end of the deal. Colorado fulfills its part of the agreement by sending water downstream, where it’s stored in Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border.
How many people depend on the Colorado River for water?
40 Million People Rely on the Colorado River.
Will Colorado River dry up?
The reality is that the water shortage in the Colorado River Basin is part of the longer-term aridification of the American West. On average, the Colorado River’s flow has declined by about 20 percent over the last century, according to a 2020 study by U.S. Geological Survey scientists.
Does Colorado have a water shortage?
The federal government has officially declared the first-ever water shortage in the Colorado River basin, which means mandatory water cuts in some states and Mexico in 2022.
Is the Colorado River Dirty?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it now estimates that a leak that turned a Colorado river yellow has caused three times as much pollution as initially thought.
What happens if Colorado River Dries?
If it’s dry there, that means many more problems as the water flows downstream . “This is when we’re supposed to be gaining and accumulating water in the form of snowpack, and that’s not happening,” Selover said. Conditions have been deteriorating across the river basin since the summer of 2020.
Do rivers flow into Colorado?
There are only two rivers that flow into Colorado , the Cimarron River originates in New Mexico, while the Green River starts in Utah. All of the other rivers in Colorado originate from within the state’s borders.
What state uses the most water from the Colorado River?
Like other states with available Colorado River water, Utah has plans to develop more of its appropriation. Utah’s population is projected to double by 2065, placing an increased demand on water supplies. And the Colorado River is Utah’s most reliable water source.
How many people can the Colorado River support?
The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water to nearly 40 million people for municipal use, supply water to irrigate nearly 5.5 million acres of land, and is the lifeblood for at least 22 federally recognized tribes, 7 National Wildlife Refuges, 4 National Recreation Areas, and 11 National Parks.
What cities rely on the Colorado River?
Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada are the largest cities in the basin, and they use the Colorado River and its tributaries as their primary source of water.
What will happen if Lake Mead dries up?
If Lake Mead drops another 175 feet, water would then no longer pass through the Hoover Dam and cut off the water supply for everyone downstream . ... If we continue on the current trend we’re on, the day may come where some painful water cuts will have to be made to conserve what water is left.
Who are the top 5 consumers of the Colorado River?
States in the River Basin have control over the flow and consumption of Colorado River water. Thus, the top 5 consumers of water from the river are California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah .
How does California get water from the Colorado River?
The Colorado Aqueduct , built in the 1930s, transports water from the Colorado River to Southern California. It’s operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and is the region’s primary source of drinking water.
