Colorado
Feds Say Colorado River Is In Crisis—Here’s What It Looks Like
Topline
The Biden administration this week imposed deep cuts to water utilization from the Colorado River subsequent yr after years of overuse and drought fueled by local weather change, as unprecedented low water ranges threaten reservoirs, hydropower and agriculture all through the West.
A buoy sits on the bottom in a bit of Lake Mead that was beforehand below water (Photograph by Justin … [+]
Key Info
Excessive warmth and low precipitation have introduced the Colorado River to a “tipping level” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton stated this week, whereas Inside Division Assistant Secretary For Water And Science Tanya Trujillo stated water cuts are essential to keep away from a “catastrophic collapse of the Colorado River system.”
The Inside Division initiatives Lake Mead, a reservoir shaped by the Hoover Dam, will fall beneath 1,050 toes above sea stage by January, assembly a water-shortage-tier for the primary time, threatening the viability of the dam, which generates sufficient electrical energy to serve roughly 1.3 million folks in Arizona, California and Nevada, based on the Bureau of Reclamation.
The drought can be placing farmers prone to shedding their crops as one among their main irrigation sources runs dry – the Colorado River is estimated to supply water for a $15 billion annual agriculture enterprise, the Related Press reported.
Greater than 40 million folks depend on the Colorado River for water use, the New York Occasions reported.
Water ranges are at historic lows amid a historic 21-year “megadrought,” in some instances revealing … [+]
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Water ranges at Lake Mead stand at 27 p.c of capability, its lowest stage since being crammed in … [+]
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Lake Powell, a reservoir shaped by the Glen Canyon Dam, upriver from Lake Mead, has additionally dropped to … [+]
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Water consumption pipes sit on floor in entrance of Pyramid Island on a bit of Lake Mead that was … [+]
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Extended drought has Lake Mead at traditionally low water ranges on August 17, 2022 close to Boulder … [+]
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Key Background
The 2-decade megadrought has introduced components of the West into its driest interval in additional than 1,200 years, based on a examine revealed in February within the journal Nature Local weather Change, introduced on by intense warmth waves and scarce precipitation accelerated by local weather change. As of June, almost 70% of the West and Southern Plains face drought circumstances, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. The cuts introduced this week are one of many largest steps taken to guard the Colorado River, though they’re smaller than these imposed final yr, which primarily focused farmers in Arizona — a part of a 2019 contingency plan between southwestern states, officers in Mexico and American Indian tribes.
Huge Quantity
21%. That’s the share of Arizona’s water provide from the Colorado River that will probably be lower, based on the Inside Division. Nevada’s allotment will probably be lower by 8%, whereas Mexico’s will probably be decreased by 7%.
Additional Studying
Disaster looms with out huge cuts to over-tapped Colorado River (Related Press)
U.S. Declares Main Colorado River Water Cuts Amid Historic Western Drought (Forbes)
Western U.S. Drought Approaches Historic Ranges – Right here’s Why That Issues To You (Forbes)
The Colorado River drought is coming on your winter veggies (Vox)
Hydropower Worries Develop As Colorado River Reservoirs Hold Dropping (KUNC)