Report: Uncertainty around water supply drives economic concerns for Northwest Colorado’s counties
In Northwest Colorado, local communities depend on water, not only to support their growing populations, but also to bolster outdoor recreation and tourism, agricultural production and more. As Colorado and the West face growing aridification driven by climate change, threats to water quality, quantity, timing and more are increasing — and driving overall economic uncertainty. A new report from the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality/Quantity Committee seeks to illustrate the relationships between economic activity, water and emerging threats in Eagle, Grand, Gunnison, Pitkin, Routt and Summit counties. Collectively, the report refers to these as the headwaters counties, owing to the vast number of source waters and major tributaries that originate within their mountains — including the Colorado River, which has its headwaters in Grand County and delivers water to over 40 million downstream users.
Other Colorado River management news:
- Pinal Central (Casa Grande, Ariz.): Water politics: Officials navigate Colorado River cuts and their impacts on Pinal
- Public Policy Institute of California: Blog: Unpacking the latest developments on the Colorado River: Part two
