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Why is the Colorado River Threatened by a Water Crisis?
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The Colorado River runs across the southwestern part of the United States, spanning across five states – and its continued depleting source of water due to incessant droughts caused by climate change is proving catastrophic for those who depend on it.
The Colorado River basin supports over 40 million people across seven states, with the upper basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico feeding crucial water supplies into major reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
These massive storage facilities have reached historically low levels as river flows continue to dwindle, creating an unforeseen strain on Colorado River water reserves that sustain agriculture, urban centers, and more. Furthermore, the upper basin's snowpack, which traditionally provides the majority of Colorado River water as snow usually steadily melts over the spring, has declined significantly due to prolonged drought conditions and rising temperatures.
In this article, we'll explain why the Colorado River is suffering from a water crisis, how water supply is rationed from the Colorado Basin, and what could be done to preserve water access for the seven basin states.
What is the Colorado River?
The Colorado River initially formed alongside the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains, specifically in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park – the Colorado River, once known as the Grand, spans across the Southwestern part of the United States. The Colorado River covers a whopping 1,450-mile-long distance, and many depend on it as a source to collect water and supply it to seven states of the U.S., and even two states in Mexico.
Did you know that 1.9 trillion gallons of water is used from the Colorado River each year? The majority of this water from the Colorado River is used for agricultural purposes.
“ More than 800 miles long, the Texas Colorado River is the longest river to start and end in the same state and is the lifeblood of our state’s economy, our environment, our industry, our agriculture, and especially our lives as Texans. – (Colorado River Alliance). ”
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What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that collects freshwater from rainfall and melting snow and disperses them into creeks, streams, and rivers – like the Colorado River – and sends them into other bodies of water.
Watersheds are important because they provide crucial necessities like drinkable clean water, improve the productivity of fisheries, support the economy as an essential resource, and ultimately – improve the environment, biodiversity, and overall quality of all forms of Earthly life.
After all – the human body is nearly 60% water, and without it – no life on Earth could survive. In addition to this, Americans are known to eat large amounts of beef and dairy – both of which take up a massive amount of water to produce and further deplete the sparse water available in the Colorado River.
Where is the Colorado River Basin?
The Colorado River cuts through some of the United States, and the world’s, most well known landscapes: including the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but also various other deserts and mesas. However, much of the Colorado River is dried up due to urbanisation and agriculture demands.
Remember, the Colorado River Basin is split up into two regions across seven states – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, and California.
Upper Basin States
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Wyoming
Lower Basin States
- Arizona
- Neveda
- California
Why is the Colorado River Important?
California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and two states in Mexico rely on the Colorado River as a water resource – making it an imperative ecological and economic resource to the states surrounding the river.
The Colorado River is known to supply water for irrigation systems related to agriculture, supply public spaces with water, and even aid in the production of electricity.
The Colorado River provides over 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico with the water necessary for billions of dollars worth of agricultural activity, but climate change has made its once lucrative state difficult to sustain.
“ Maybe you’re brushing your teeth; perhaps you’re rinsing your dishes; you could be watering your plants. When you turn on your faucet in parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, or California, there’s a good chance you’re drawing water from the Colorado River. –(National Geographic). ”
Colorado River Crisis: How Climate Change Impacts Water Resources
Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and more have had a profound effect on water availability from the lower Colorado River Basin states – especially as Lake Mead and Lake Powell continue to struggle to provide a fixed amount of water in the midst of the current crisis.
As of 2025, two of the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, only have 32% and 33% of the water capacity they used to have due to the Colorado River’s decreased flow of water and increase in demand due to growing populations. These growing number of inhabitants require more industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural activity to produce edible crops – which all require higher amounts of water.
Without the Colorado River, these U.S. and Mexican states could experience a backlog of productivity in progressing the already growing population and necessity for usable water in their communities. The Colorado River not only provides irrigation for 5.5 million acres of land used to harvest crops, but it also helps to create billions of kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power.
Clearly, if the Colorado River is to suffer more than it already has – the effects could prove deleterious the Southwestern region of the United States as well as parts of Northern Mexico.
The flip cards below (move your cursor over the card to flip) will further depict how reduced water availability could impact water users and the vast majority of those living in the seven basin states:
🚜 Agricultural Losses
Less available water means reduced irrigation for farms, leading to crop losses and rising food prices across the region.
🚿 Urban Water Restrictions
Cities may impose stricter water-use limits, impacting everyday access to water for households and businesses alike.
⚡ Energy Production Strains
Hydroelectric dams like Glen Canyon could generate less power, pushing grid stress and increasing reliance on fossil fuels.
💧 Tribal & Ecosystem Impacts
Reduced flows threaten Tribal water rights and damage ecosystems that depend on consistent river flow to thrive.
Current Crisis: Why Colorado River Water is Impacted
Climate change is undoubtedly taking a toll on the Colorado River after years of incessant droughts have come close to diminishing its flow entirely.
In efforts to mitigate this negative effect, the seven states in the U.S. that rely on the Colorado River are expected to take part in reducing their water use from the Colorado River – by reducing their usage up to a quarter of what they usually do.
“ The circumstances we face will require swift actions and increased water conservation in every state, from every sector... we simply have no choice. – (Tanya Trujillo, from the Department of the Interior). ”
Imagine having to pay all of your same bills, and still have enough money leftover to save and spend frivolously – with a quarter less of your monthly salary. That’s not as easy as you might think it would be, until it happens to you.
As a result, the seven states were required to find a middle ground on how much water each state should refrain from using. This means that the federal government may have to get involved in order to ensure that the Colorado River is preserved so that it doesn’t get to the point where it dries out completely.
In fact, in 1922, the seven states signed the Colorado River Compact – which allowed the Colorado Basin States to equally share water in times when sufficient water access was possible, but has proven ineffective when drastic cuts needed to be made due to low flows and over allocation.
The Colorado Basin and the Biden Administration
In April 2023, the Biden-Harris administration made an effort to put the Colorado River Crisis out of peril – having helped to make the tough cuts that the seven states have previously been unable to agree on.
“ In the face of a climate change-fueled megadrought, communities and ecosystems in the Colorado River Basin need both near-term and long-term solutions to ensure the stability of this precious resource for generations to come. – (John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy.) ”
If Trump's administration doesn't pick up where the Biden administration left off, the Colorado River could stop flowing all together – something that nobody would benefit from happening. This is also known as "deadpool", which is when a river stops flowing or functioning entirely – and Lake Powell is at risk of this.
Remember, the Glen Canyon Dam flooded over 180 miles – helping to create what is known today as Lake Powell. If this lake is to drop below dead pool, it can no longer move freely through the dam and to the Colorado River, which could further impact the current water resource crisis.
The drop down sections below will delineate just a few of the long-term impacts if the potential drought years are to eradicate enough water resources from the Colorado River Basin entirely:
🌾 Agricultural Collapse
With persistent drought, farms may permanently lose access to water for irrigation, decimating crop yields and damaging local and national food supply chains.
🏙️ Urban Water Scarcity
Water supplies for major metropolitan areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles could face permanent reductions, limiting future population growth and straining public health infrastructure.
⚡ Energy Disruptions
Lower reservoir levels reduce hydropower generation capacity, increasing reliance on fossil fuels and making energy more expensive and less sustainable.
🌐 Geopolitical Tension
States and Tribal nations may clash over water rights, sparking legal battles and requiring new compacts or policy reforms to prevent economic and ecological collapse.
The Colorado River has weathered through droughts before, but this is different. As global temperatures continue to rise throughout the next century, natural disasters and bizarre weather patterns, like the extreme heat waves we have experienced this summer – are likely to continue to occur at an even more intense rate.
In other words, the summers will keep getting hotter for longer periods of time – meaning imperative bodies of water, like the Colorado River, could be up against a fight with climate change that they aren’t equipped to survive.
Is Global Warming Impacting the Colorado River?
The Colorado River and other important bodies of water have suffered due to droughts of the past, but global warming is making it even more difficult for them to survive sparse periods of rainfall. The water levels for the lakes associated with the Colorado River could suffer as well.
In fact, according to The Nature Conservancy, the Colorado River has experienced a substantial 20% decline in average flow since the year 2000 – and considering how climate change has become more prominent over the last 25 years, the negative effects are only bound to get worse.
Has Global Warming Impacted the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon and its National Park have been affected by climate change as well, such as with increased temperatures and newfound, sporadic precipitation patterns.
The table below will describe some of the ways that the Grand Canyon has been impacted by climate change:
| Impact Area | Description |
|---|---|
| 🌡️ Rising Temperatures | Increased average temperatures have intensified heatwaves, making hiking and tourism more dangerous, especially in the summer months. |
| 💧 Water Scarcity | Decreased snowpack in the Rocky Mountains has led to reduced water flow in the Colorado River, affecting ecosystems and water supply throughout the canyon. |
| 🔥 Increased Wildfires | Warmer, drier conditions have heightened wildfire risks in and around the canyon, threatening biodiversity and air quality. |
| 🌱 Biodiversity Loss | Shifting weather patterns have impacted native plant and animal species, including endangered ones like the humpback chub and the California condor. |
| 🏞️ Erosion & Landscape Shifts | More intense rainfall events, followed by drought, are accelerating erosion and reshaping parts of the canyon’s geologic structure. |
Has Global Warming Impacted the Imperial Valley?
Climate Change has also impacted the Imperial Valley, especially in the populous and lucrative state of California – which is known for using an average 4.4 million acre-feet each year. Although California has “senior” rights and is often the last in line to feel the effects of a water shortage, the effects of global warming on the Imperial Valley could wreck havoc on the state.
The Imperial Valley, which produces two-thirds of the U.S.’s winter produce, could face water shortages in correlation with the continuous cuts to be made due to the Colorado River water crisis. This could result in a more sparse harvest season and impact not only the United States, but the global economy.
Moving Forward: Protecting the Colorado River
As explained before, the world’s only expected to get hotter at an unprecedented rate as long as carbon emissions continue to rise at the rate that they are. For bodies like the Colorado River, which are extremely sensitive to high temperatures, the water supply could be provoked to decrease more than it would have otherwise.
As a result, up to a third of the water provided by the Colorado River could be manifested into a real shortage for the next generation unless more businesses and individuals around the world implement serious measures to curb their carbon footprint.
In short, global warming isn’t the sole cause for the crisis associated with the Colorado River – but rising temperatures and extreme heats preventing substantial rainfall and a copious supply of fresh drinking water for irrigation purposes doesn’t make it any easier.
Is There a Way to Save the Colorado River?
The path to saving the Colorado River is simple: there need to be regulations on how much water is used from the Colorado River if the states that depend on them don’t want it to disappear completely.
“ And the waters that run through the Colorado River are a primary source of water for 40 million Americans. They support the lion's share of the Western agriculture, which includes a lot of vegetable production for the entire country. They support cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles and Denver, among many others. And it is an irreplaceable source of water that has sustained Western development for more than 100 years. – (Abrahm Lustgarten). ”
For example, Arizona, a state with partial rights to conduct the usage of the Colorado River, has been extensively planning for how to mitigate the depletion of the river for years now.
Ultimately, the quickest way to reduce the usage from the Colorado River would be to make cuts in agriculture, but it won’t be easy for farmers to adjust. Therefore, it would be easier if the citizens of each state could make their efforts to reduce the amount of water they use: in showers, laundry machines, and public facilities.
However, as urbanisation continues to accelerate – these water cuts aren’t feasible for most states, and don’t end up happening.
In short, the responsibility of who should make the most drastic cuts to their water usage results in a never-ending loop of who should take the first step – but no party ever does so because it’s too difficult of a task.
The water cuts are going to have to become compulsory, and permanent, if the 40 million people dependent on Colorado River Water are going to preserve what’s left of the Colorado River.
How Can the 7 States Agree Upon These Regulations?
Newsflash: in April 2023, the states still couldn't agree – which required then-President Biden to plan to cut even more water supply from each state than previously agreed upon by the seven states. This was done in order to prevent the Colorado River from shutting down altogether. However, it would still be optimal if the seven states could come to an agreement on the Colorado River to avoid the federal government from making the cuts – but that remains unlikely, seeing as each state continues to view the cuts differently.
As of 2025, the states still haven't fully agreed on how to handle each state's water rights past 2026 – as each state continues to debilitate six different options to conserve water usage. While none of the proposals are pretty, one of the most brutal propositions includes asking Colorado and the other states in the Upper Basin to conserve a whopping 500,000 acre-feet of water. In order to imagine the whole thing more vividly, just remember – according to Water Education Colorado, one acre-foot is around the annual water use of up to three households.
The drop down sections below will share each of the seven basin states viewpoint on water access from the Colorado River Basin:
🌄 Arizona
As one of the most water-dependent states in the region, Arizona is especially vulnerable. The state faces deep cuts under current drought contingency plans and has pushed for greater conservation and groundwater strategies.
🌵 Nevada
Nevada, with Las Vegas relying heavily on Lake Mead, has embraced aggressive conservation programs and water recycling as key tools to maintain access amid shrinking allocations.
🏔️ Colorado
As a headwaters state, Colorado emphasises protecting its upstream rights. It’s focused on preserving agricultural use and ski industry demand while balancing downstream obligations.
🌾 Utah
Utah continues to advocate for its full share of the river to support rapid population growth and economic development, though it faces criticism over large-scale diversion projects.
🌽 New Mexico
With limited access to surface water, New Mexico is pushing for modernisation of aging infrastructure and collaborative watershed management to ensure long-term supply stability.
🌊 California
California receives the largest share of Colorado River water and relies on it for agriculture in the Imperial Valley. The state has resisted steep cuts and advocated for voluntary conservation measures.
🏞️ Wyoming
As another headwaters state, Wyoming’s stance centers on protecting its legal entitlements and preserving agricultural water use while monitoring downstream negotiations closely.
The outlook for the Colorado River is overwhelming. But what our future looks like is still our choice. We can, and should, choose to pursue a just transition to a basin with significantly less water. While in no way comprehensive, below are three ways to get started on that path.
1. Recognising the Unsustainable Reality of Water Usage
First of all, it’s important that these states recognise the unsustainable reality of their water usage. Basically, it’s time to accept the harsh realities: urbanisation in these states isn’t a viable opportunity at the moment, and if their populations continue to increase – then harsh restrictions on water will prevail.
Supply and demand have to be taken into consideration regarding the Colorado River, and the new regulations need to constantly be adjusted according to the predictions in climate change. In other words, if there is an exceptionally dry summer – then water cuts should be even more drastic as an attempt to counteract the negative effects of a summer with little rainfall.
We have to get better at doing more with less. There isn’t going to be more water to work with, meaning that the seven states have to plan strategically.
2. Addressing Inequalities That Have Gone Unnoticed
Second, we have to address any inequalities that have gone unnoticed for quite some time. Transparency regarding which sectors are truly following the new protocols and current guidelines for cutting their water usage from the Colorado River needs to increase.
If this isn’t done, any future data will prove itself futile – as no one will ever truly know how much water is left in the Colorado River watershed.
The efforts to save the Colorado River have to be a collective effort. We must rid ourselves of the days where privatisation and money took precedent, as fiscal power can’t assert any dominance over who gets how much water from the Colorado River.
Everyone, rich or poor, needs to be held accountable for the amount of water they are using from the river.
3. Supporting Communities in the Transition to Reduced Water Access
Third, using a whole-portfolio method to utilise the innovative ways we can support communities in transitioning to the actions necessary to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change could prove useful. As explained before, the battle to save the Colorado River has to be a collaborative one.
If each state can find its own way to unify its people in the fight to save the river and the environment as a whole, then the incentive to preserve water will be intrinsic – and everyone will be much more likely to succeed.
Climate change isn’t going away. Even if we all play our part to reduce the already existing effects of rising global temperatures, the truth is – they’re already here, and this is being shown in the Colorado River.
It’s not going to be easy, but nothing in life ever is. What’s important to remember is that hard work will reap glorious benefits, and if the states associated with the Colorado River could instill this motto into their water regulations – all those that rely on the river just might prove this infamous phrase true.
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Sources
Public Policy Institute of California https://www.ppic.org/publication/the-colorado-river/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/watershed.html
National Integrated Drought Information System https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/snow-drought-current-conditions-and-impacts-west-2025-05-01
American Rivers https://www.americanrivers.org/river/colorado-river-2/
Colorado River Alliance https://coloradoriver.org/about-the-river/
Colorado Water Conservation Board https://cwcb.colorado.gov/colorado-river-basin
National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/partner-content-colorado-river-preserving-stressed-water-resources and https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/big-changes-are-coming-for-the-colorado-river-soonand-they-could-get-messy
Utah Division of Water Resources https://water.utah.gov/interstate-streams/colorado-river-story/
NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/climate/colorado-river-lake-mead-water-drought.html
Bureau of Reclamation https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/ and https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/weekly.pdf
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/articles/hydraulic-empire/
Market Place https://www.marketplace.org/episode/2023/10/11/introducing-how-we-survive-the-worth-of-water
U.S. Department of the Interior https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-puts-colorado-river-path-success
Grand Canyon Trust https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/blog/how-glen-canyon-dam-works/
The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/colorado-river/colorado-river-in-crisis/
Science Direct https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X23000355
National Park Services https://www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/upload/GRCA-CFP-Action-Plan-508compliant.pdf
The Environmental Defense Fund https://blogs.edf.org/growingreturns/2021/09/02/climate-change-destabilizing-colorado-river-basin/
NPR https://www.npr.org/2022/09/29/1125905928/the-colorado-river-water-shortage-is-forcing-tough-choices-in-7-states
Clark County Bar Association https://clarkcountybar.org/nevada-and-the-shrinking-colorado-river/
Utah's Coordinated Action Plan for Water https://luau.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Utahs-Coordinated-Action-Plan-for-Water-2022.pdf
New Mexico Officer of the Governor https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/03/07/new-mexico-strategic-water-supply-bill-advances-through-house-with-enhanced-public-protections/
Water Education Colorado https://watereducationcolorado.org/fresh-water-news/what-could-future-colorado-river-water-cuts-look-like-states-look-to-this-years-weak-snowpack-to-find-out/