When the seven states of the Colorado River Basin first divided water rights in the 1920s, they handed out more than the river could reliably deliver, especially during periods of drought.
When the seven states of the Colorado River Basin first divided water rights in the 1920s, they handed out more than the river could reliably deliver, especially during periods of drought. Today, the basin supplies drinking water to 40 million people and irrigates 5 million acres of farmland across the southwestern United States, 30 tribal nations, and parts of Mexico.
Climate change has exacerbated shortages, with studies indicating that recent Colorado River flows are near their lowest in at least 2,000 years. That has had severe consequences for fish: Of the 49 fish species native to the Colorado River Basin, 44 are already threatened, endangered or extinct.
Standing agreements governing Colorado River management among states and between the U.S. and Mexico are set to expire after 2026. New research led by University of Washington water policy expert Philip Womble found that a market-based approach to managing water could provide more reliable supplies for farmers, communities and industry. The right market design and a little extra investment could also help threatened fish species.
Read more at: University of Washington
The Colorado River, seen here at Horseshoe Bend in northern Arizona, supplies drinking water to 40 million people and irrigates 5 million acres of farmland across the southwestern United States, 30 tribal nations, and parts of Mexico. (Photo Credit: Pexels via Pixabay)
