Where the Water Goes

1. The Colorado River: A Lifeline for the American West

"It supplies water to more than 36 million people, including residents not just of Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs but also of Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, and Los Angeles, several of which are hundreds of miles from its banks."

A critical resource. The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West, supporting a vast network of cities, farms, and ecosystems across seven U.S. states and parts of Mexico. Despite its relatively modest size compared to other major rivers, the Colorado's importance is immeasurable.

Infrastructure and economy. The river's water has been harnessed through an extensive system of dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts, including:

• Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
• Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell
• The Colorado River Aqueduct
• The Central Arizona Project

These projects have enabled the growth of major cities and agricultural areas in otherwise arid regions, contributing significantly to the economy of the southwestern United States.

2. Over-Allocation and Climate Change: Threats to Water Security

"There is simply not enough water in the system for everyone to take their full legal allotment."

A growing imbalance. The Colorado River is severely over-allocated, with more water rights claimed on paper than actual water available in the river. This problem is exacerbated by:

• Climate change reducing snowpack in the Rocky Mountains
• Prolonged drought in the Southwest
• Increasing water demands from growing populations

Declining reservoirs. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs on the Colorado River, have seen dramatic declines in water levels:

• Lake Mead has lost over 60% of its volume since 1998
• Both reservoirs are at risk of reaching "dead pool" levels, where water can no longer be released downstream

These trends threaten the water security of millions of people and the viability of major agricultural areas dependent on the river.

3. The Law of the River: Complexities of Water Rights

"The legal right to use every gallon is owned or claimed by someone—in fact, more than every gallon, since theoretical rights to the Colorado's flow, known to water lawyers as 'paper water,' greatly exceed its actual flow, known as 'wet water.'"

A complex legal framework. The Law of the River, a collection of compacts, treaties, and court decisions, governs water allocation in the Colorado River Basin. Key components include:

• The Colorado River Compact of 1922
• The prior appropriation doctrine ("first in time, first in right")
• Various inter-state and international agreements

Challenges and adaptations. The rigid nature of these water rights has created challenges in adapting to changing conditions. However, recent agreements like Minute 319 between the U.S. and Mexico demonstrate a growing willingness to cooperate and find flexible solutions to water shortages.

4. Agriculture: The Largest Consumer of Colorado River Water

"Agriculture accounts for roughly eighty percent of all Colorado River water consumption throughout the river's entire drainage basin."

Dominant water use. Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of Colorado River water, with vast areas of irrigated farmland in regions like:

• California's Imperial Valley
• Arizona's Yuma area
• Colorado's Grand Valley

Efficiency and challenges. While many farmers have adopted more efficient irrigation techniques, significant challenges remain:

• Balancing water conservation with agricultural productivity
• Addressing the "use it or lose it" mentality encouraged by some water rights systems
• Managing the environmental impacts of agricultural runoff

The future of water management in the basin will require finding ways to reduce agricultural water use while maintaining food production and rural economies.

5. Urban Growth and Water Conservation Efforts

"Las Vegas today uses less water overall than it did fifteen years ago, even though the population of the metropolitan area has grown to nearly two million."

Urban water efficiency. Many cities dependent on the Colorado River have implemented aggressive water conservation measures:

• Incentives for removing grass lawns
• Water recycling and reuse programs
• Tiered water pricing structures

Balancing growth and conservation. Despite population growth, cities like Las Vegas have managed to reduce overall water consumption. However, continued urban expansion in arid regions raises questions about long-term sustainability.

6. Environmental Challenges: Salton Sea and River Delta

"The Salton Sea represents a confounding ecological paradox. It was created by an act of engineering imbecility, and its continued existence and current condition are direct results of a sort of willful disregard for environmental consequences. Yet it's also the largest lake in California."

Unintended consequences. The Salton Sea, created by an accidental diversion of the Colorado River, has become a critical habitat for migratory birds. However, it faces severe environmental challenges:

• Increasing salinity as agricultural runoff decreases
• Exposure of toxic dust as the lake shrinks
• Loss of wildlife habitat

Delta restoration efforts. The Colorado River Delta, once a vast wetland ecosystem, has been severely degraded by upstream water diversions. Recent efforts, including intentional "pulse flows" of water, aim to partially restore this critical habitat.

7. Innovative Solutions: Desalination, Cloud Seeding, and Water Banking

"Desalination is more economical if the water it processes is less salty than seawater—say, brackish water from a river estuary, or recycled water that's too salty to be reused even for irrigation, or formerly pure groundwater that has become excessively saline as rising sea levels have pushed saltwater intrusion farther inland."

Technological approaches. Various innovative solutions are being explored to address water scarcity:

• Desalination plants in coastal areas
• Cloud seeding to increase snowfall in mountain regions
• Water banking, storing excess water underground for future use

Pros and cons. While these technologies offer potential benefits, they also come with drawbacks:

• High energy costs for desalination
• Uncertain effectiveness of cloud seeding
• Complex legal and environmental considerations for water banking

8. The Future of Water Management: Cooperation and Tough Choices

"You can only do two things. You can augment the supply of water from an outside source, or you can reduce demand, to bring it within the water budget that the river provides."

Collaborative solutions. The future of water management in the Colorado River Basin will require unprecedented cooperation among states, cities, farmers, and other stakeholders. Key strategies may include:

• Interstate water trading and leasing agreements
• Voluntary reductions in water use during drought
• Investments in water-saving technologies and infrastructure

Difficult decisions ahead. Addressing the basin's water challenges will likely require tough choices:

• Potentially reducing agricultural water allocations
• Limiting urban growth in water-scarce areas
• Balancing human water needs with environmental conservation

The long-term sustainability of the Colorado River system will depend on the ability of all users to adapt to a future with less water availability and greater climate uncertainty.

Last updated: January 24, 2025