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Pete McBride
Colorado River Drought
The Colorado River is drying up. We’re doing everything we can to sustain the river and its communities.
As snowpacks shrink, temperatures rise, and less water flows into the Colorado River, we’re facing a historic mega-drought that’s worsening with climate change.
We’re working to ensure that the Colorado River continues flowing through the Grand Canyon in this hotter, drier future and that its water reaches the people, crops, wildlife, and landscapes that depend on it.
The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the Southwest
People rely on the Colorado River
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Tribes call the Colorado River Basin home
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Acres of farmland use Colorado River water
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Drought makes the Colorado River work harder
The Colorado River flows almost 1,500 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly every drop is piped to desert cities and sucked dry by thirsty crops before it reaches the sea.
Chris Jepsen, Flickr
Agriculture
75% of Colorado River water is used to grow crops like alfalfa, cotton, and lettuce.
Trevor Huxham, Flickr
Cities
The Colorado River supplies water to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and other cities.
Tim D. Peterson
Economies
The Colorado River is an economic engine for WY, CO, UT, NM, AZ, NV, and CA.
Amy s. Martin
Tribes
22 tribes have formal water rights, and 12 tribes have unresolved claims.
The West faces tough decisions about how it uses or saves water
Demand already outpaces supply in the Colorado River Basin, and deepening drought will diminish flows even more.
of the Colorado River could dry up by 2050
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of the Colorado River could dry up by 2100
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Addressing drought in the Colorado River Basin
There’s not enough water to go around. We’re advocating for new rules that ensure the river’s long-term health in the face of drought.
Snowmelt from the mountains drains into Lake Powell, where it is stored until water managers carefully release flows through Glen Canyon Dam into the Grand Canyon.
Bighorn sheep, cacti, canyon wrens, and many other critters rely on the Colorado River. We’re working to make sure plants and animals that call the Grand Canyon home can thrive.