7 US States Fail To Agree On How To Share Colorado River Water - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the ongoing and contentious negotiations among seven US states and Mexico over the allocation of water from the Colorado River, a critical resource supplying 40 million people and irrigating 80% of the crops feeding 330 million Americans. The river is currently overdrawn by approximately 3.5 million acre-feet annually—equivalent to about 1 trillion gallons—due to reduced snowfall in the Rocky Mountains and increased evaporation from rising temperatures. This overuse has depleted the river’s reserves by over 10 trillion gallons in the past two decades, causing historic lows in major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which also provide hydroelectric power to the Southwest. For two years, the states have been negotiating under federal directive to reduce water usage but have yet to reach a consensus. The complexity arises from historical water rights agreements and the competing demands of growing cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, as well as Mexico’s agricultural needs. While officials claim progress has been made and negotiations