“In December, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation told water managers in the seven states that share the Colorado River they had until Jan. 31 to negotiate major water cuts to shore up the nation’s two largest reservoirs, where water levels have crumbled amid drought, climate change and population growth.” – CPR News, Climate Team, Newsletter 1/30/2023
As part of the 2022 Science Elevated Speaker Series, the Gardens hosted a sold-out event with Brad Udall, Climate Scientist and Senior Water Researcher from CSU. We’re bringing you the link to the talk, as today is the deadline for the state decision on how to collectively protect the Colorado River.
- Read the summary of Udall’s presentation in this article by the Vail Daily.
- Watch a recording of the presentation by Brad Udall, “The Colorado River and Changing Climate”
- Listen to “7 States, One River, and an Agonizing Choice” from The Daily, a podcast from The New York Times
In the United States, 40 million people in seven states depend on water provided by the Colorado River.
After 20 years of drought, the situation is dire and the river is at risk of becoming a “deadpool,” a condition in which there is not enough water to pass through the dams.
The states were supposed to come up with a deal to cut their usage by Tuesday. Now, the federal government may have to step in and make a difficult decision.
