HISTORY73 - The Colorado River is in Crisis
There have been numerous reports lately about how the Colorado River, which supplies water for 40 million people in seven states, has shrunk during the Southwest’s 23-year megadrought, with its major reservoirs, Mead and Powell, approaching record lows and expected to eventually run out of water unless user states cut back on water. That sounded like a worthy subject to investigate and blog about. So, in this article, “The Colorado River is in Crisis,” I will start with an introduction to the Colorado River, then discuss the roots of the West’s water system, next the start of river water management with the historic Colorado River Compact, followed by the subsequent development of the Colorado River dams and aqueducts, evolving policy to provide adequate water, and the river’s status today. I will end with a snapshot of options that have been proposed to sustain the Colorado River water resource in the future. My principal sources include: “Sharing Colorado River Water: Hi