Tag: Colorado River

Insights into the Thirst of the Southwest

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Colorado River as it meanders south towards the Grand Canyon, taken near to Horse Shoe Bend AZ. Source: herdiephoto, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Insights from a New Comprehensive Water Accounting Study

The Colorado River, a lifeline for over 40 million people and over two million hectares of cropland, barely trickles into the Gulf of California’s shores. The river has reached a critical juncture due to decades of overuse and climate challenges.

A new study published in Nature provides a comprehensive water budget, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of water consumption and offering a roadmap toward sustainable management. The river’s dwindling flows underscore a pressing need for strategic interventions to ensure its survival and continued support for millions of people and vast agricultural lands.

The Heart of the Matter

The multi-year study conducted between 2000 and 2019, provides a granular analysis of water usage patterns, pinpointing agriculture as the dominant consumer. The findings indicate that irrigated agriculture accounts for a staggering 74% of direct human water use, with cattle feed crops such as alfalfa and grass as significant water guzzlers, accounting for 46% of direct water consumption.

Consumptive

Water consumed by each sector in the Colorado River Basin and sub-basins (including exports), based on 2000–2019 averages from the study New water accounting reveals why the Colorado River no longer reaches the sea (Fig. 4).

The Colorado River’s Dilemma

The Colorado River’s plight tells a tale of natural variability alongside a stark reflection of human choices and their impacts on natural resources. The study’s revelations about the scale of agricultural water use, especially for cattle feed, invite a critical reassessment of water allocation priorities and the sustainability of current agricultural practices.

Navigating the Waters Ahead

Addressing the Colorado River’s challenges requires a multifaceted approach, combining policy reforms, technological innovations, and shifts in agricultural practices. The study advocates for a balanced water budget and the adoption of water-efficient technologies and crops.

With cattle feed crops utilizing a considerable portion of the river’s water, the study suggests reevaluating crop choices and water use efficiency. Implementing more sustainable practices, including alternative cropping patterns and enhanced irrigation techniques, could substantially reduce water stress. Moreover, it underscores the importance of collaborative water management strategies involving all stakeholders to ensure equitable and sustainable use.

Final Thoughts

The Colorado River’s diminishing flows serve as a wake-up call to address the unsustainable patterns of water consumption that threaten this critical water source. The comprehensive study lays the groundwork for informed decision-making, urging immediate action to safeguard the river’s future. Through collective efforts and sustainable practices, there is hope for restoring the balance and ensuring the Colorado River continues to sustain the Southwest for future generations.

Source: Richter, B.D., Lamsal, G., Marston, L. et al. New water accounting reveals why the Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. Commun Earth Environ 5, 134 (2024).

    A River’s Reckoning

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    Paul Bruchez is a fifth-generation rancher whose family raises cattle in the upper reaches of the Colorado River near Kremmling, Colorado, where he also runs a private fly-fishing guide service.

    “A River’s Reckoning” tells the story of Paul’s awakening to the importance of river conservation and the legacy of his family’s ranch when drought and urban water diversions deplete the Colorado River, threatening the ranch’s operations. When Art Bruchez, the family patriarch, is diagnosed with cancer, Paul and his younger brother Doug are forced to step in and take over.

    This “river reckoning” pushes Paul and his family to confront new challenges and embrace new ways of thinking to keep their family’s ranch—and others in the valley—alive and productive. Paul and his brother rise to meet these challenges, working with neighbors, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers and other conservation groups and partners to find creative solutions that enhance their irrigation systems while restoring trout habitat in the river.

    “A River’s Reckoning” is a beautiful story of family, grit, and legacy, all in support of sustaining a ranch at 10,000 feet that depends heavily on stewardship of the Colorado River.

    The film was recently honored as an official selection of the 2018 Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

    Amid Drought, Phoenix Plans for a Future With Less Water

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    As the Colorado River’s flow declines mostly due to overuse and climate change, water supplies in seven states are imperiled by potential shortages. That includes Arizona, which recently passed legislation outlining steps it would take if water from the river continues to decrease. But what does a looming water shortage mean for Phoenix, the state’s most populous city? Hari Sreenivasan reports.