Thursday Top of the Scroll: ‘This is terrifying’: The Colorado River, a lifeline for seven states, is drying up at its source
High in the Rocky Mountains, spring-fed streams and ponds have vanished, leaving patches of cracked mud in what were once spongy meadows. This year has been so extremely warm and arid that the mountains have remained largely snowless. The water-generating source of the Colorado River, its headwaters, is drying up. … About three-fourths of the water that’s taken out of the Colorado River is used for agriculture, producing alfalfa, corn, lettuce, broccoli and other crops. In Colorado, farmers and ranchers are struggling with the immediate consequences. They’re leaving many fields and pastures dry, selling off cows, and bracing for tough economic times.
Other Colorado River management news:
- ABC15 (Phoenix): Running dry: An up-close look at the Colorado River
- KTAR (Phoenix): Scottsdale braces for Colorado River water cuts by looking for new sources
- KGUN (Tucson, Ariz.): Oro Valley told to prep for 20% Colorado River water cut starting in 2027
- West Valley View (Tempe, Ariz.): Buckeye discusses water future amid shortages
