Water Loss in Colorado River Basin: A Consequence of Climate Change

The Colorado River Basin supplies water to about 40 million people in seven western U.S. states.

The 7 States: AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT, and WY

According to a new study by the UCLA, climate change has caused the loss of over 40 trillion liters of water in the basin.

This water loss is equivalent to the storage capacity of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir on the Colorado River.

The southwestern North American megadrought, which began in 2000, has significantly reduced river flow and shrunk reservoirs.

The study found that the Colorado River Basin is highly sensitive to warming compared to other major basins in the western U.S.

The parts of the basin that are usually snow-covered in winter are losing water twice as fast as snowless regions.

The study has implications for the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which may need to be reassessed in light of the changing climate.

Effective management and mitigation strategies are needed to ensure the sustainability of the basin's water supply.

The study underscores the urgency of taking action to address climate change and protect our natural resources.

Let's take action to mitigate climate change and protect our natural resources, including the sustainability of the Colorado River Basin's water supply.