As states around the River’s lower basin face the most critical shortages, this affects all of us.
Table of Contents
A state of urgency exists concerning the Colorado River. Water levels reached all time lows, and residents and farmers who depend on the water supply need to remedy the situation. It’s a slow process, which takes time.
The Colorado River Basin and its two reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are at historic lows. Lake Mead’s water level is at its lowest since 1937; that’s when it was first filled. Today, Lake Mead‘s water level is at 27 percent capacity. Since 1999, Lake Powell lost 16 million acres of water, and is currently operating at 33 percent capacity.
The drought, wildfires, climate change, and using more water than the river provides affects millions of us, including the almost 40 million people who live close to and depend on the water supply.
The seven states directly affected by the drought are Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Let’s start with Arizona.
Arizona
When a friend told me she willingly moved to a flood zone, I didn’t understand. Why would anyone choose to live in a flood zone?
“The reason we chose to live in a flood zone is due to our well and proximity to a year round creek,” she said. “It was that important to me. We are one of the few places that will have access (to water) for a while longer, but that could change quickly as the aquifer is depleted.”
Last year, the Bureau of Reclamation declared its first-ever water shortage. The Bureau cut more than 500,000 acre-feet to Arizona households. “An acre-foot of water generally supplies three average Phoenix households,” according to my friend.
Another friend in Arizona said, “We worry that Lake Mead’s water level is so low that production of hydroelectric power is at high risk.”
I remember visiting Lake Mead six years ago. The water level then was low. The same for Lake Powell. Today in Lake Powell water levels are so low that it’s impossible to dock a boat.
“This has become an all hands on deck situation. People in the area are cutting back and making sensible choices.”
Sarah Porter, director of ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute
California
In parts of California, water restrictions are in place. “Grass is replaced with drought resistant plants, Esther Frankel said. “I live in a San Francisco suburb and we aren’t watering our lawns.”
Glen MacDonald, the John Muir Memorial Chair in Geography and a distinguished professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted in Yale Environment 360 that the drought is not caused by low precipitation, but by “rising temperatures, groundwater depletion, and a shrinking Colorado River.”
He also noted, “Recent research by the Bureau of Reclamation estimates that future climate warming alone will lead to a 10-percent increase in evaporation in Lake Mead as the 21st century progresses. Just as in the case of California’s groundwater, the Colorado River has been oversubscribed and the drought lifeline afforded by the river is further shrinking as the climate warms.”
Nevada
Kurt Grosse, a realtor with Realty One Group in Las Vegas remembers when front yards were 100 percent grass. “New homes today are built with no grass in the front yard,” he said “Front yard grass is considered not essential.”
“Instead of grass at home, there are neighborhood and community parks for recreation. We water at night, which has the least evaporation and have energy efficient and water conserving features in our houses.”
According to Grosse, in the last 15 years, Las Vegas has doubled in size and reduced Colorado River water by 40 percent. “My lifestyle has gotten better,” he said. “I no longer mow my lawn or wash my car and I save money. My gardener comes monthly or bimonthly and we only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.”
Not everyone conserves water. “When I drive down streets with grass, I get angry at the senseless use of water for grass,” he said. “Desert landscaping and hardscaping are beautiful and good for the planet.”
New Mexico
While residents in each of these states are cutting back on water use, the problem lies with Big Ag, a term describing major corporations that own farms. Porter of the Kyl Center for Water policy explained that almost all water used by individuals indoors is recycled. “Farming is different,” she said. “It takes a lot of water to grow food. Agriculture uses about three-quarters of the water supply from the Colorado River. Farmers and the workers on these farms rely heavily on that water.”
What farmers are doing is making changes in the crops they use by switching, in some cases, to ones that use small amounts of water. Reducing water in these hot dry places takes creativity.
Porter said some farmers are growing alfalfa, a low water crop. Others are planting guayle, a native dessert plant mostly grown in New Mexico. Guayle is a drought resistant plant that survives in harsh conditions. Farmers turn guayle into rubber for tires, gloves, shoe soles, insulation, and other uses. Guayle differs from latex rubber, which contains allergens.
“Farming is the lifeblood of many communities around the Colorado River,” Porter said. “Making changes in the way they farm also goes a long way.”
Porter pointed to laser land leveling tools. A study in the journal Food Security found laser land leveling technology allows water to reach every part of a field with minimal waste.
She also explained that farms moving from beef and dairy to plant-based farming is another way to use less water. Milk from a cow uses more water than plant-based alternatives. Beef versus plant-based meats follows a similar scenario regarding water; plant-based meat uses 72 to 99 percent less water than conventional meat.
Colorado
Abnormally dry weather combined with farmers using more water than available add to the shortage. Watering crops in the morning or during the day doesn’t work because the dry heat evaporates the water.
Farmers are a resilient bunch. However, the drought, is worrisome. Many climate scientists no longer call it a drought; instead it’s a “mega drought,” “aridification,” and a “desertification.”
Last year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a bill creating an office on agricultural drought and climate resilience. Millions of dollars would go to projects that would modernize existing water infrastructure and introduce new ones.
Utah
Utah is an Upper Basin State. It, too, is experiencing a drought. Senator Mitt Romney introduced the Great Salt Lake Recovery Act. This legislation includes designating $40 million for the Great Salt Lake watershed enhancement program. The legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to monitor and access water availability of saline lakes. The study will cost $10 million and will help identify potential helpful technologies such as pipelines, coastal desalination plants, and canal reinforcement to redirect water sources across the border.
Wyoming
Wyoming has until August 15 to respond to the federal government’s request asking for voluntary water conservation commitments. Currently Wyoming’s State Engineer Brandon Gebhart said they are unable to commit to the deadline.
If the state doesn’t come up with a plan, the Bureau of Reclamation will step in and take action.
It’s All of Us
True, the seven states that get their water from the Colorado River have immediate concerns than the rest of us in other states. However, all of us rely on farmed goods from many of these states.
Reuse and Recycle
Cleaning and reusing wastewater is in place in many states around the country. “On-site reuse is a major opportunity for drought-affected states to do something about their water scarcity problem,” said Riggs Eckelberry founder and CEO of OriginClear, “Simply let local users reuse it at the place of use.”
“By building treatment plants, we can treat wastewater to A) recycle it so that we get more use out of it, and B) make it safer for discharging. The recycling side helps us waste less water, thus reducing the impact on water sources like the Colorado River, and the treatment and discharge side helps us preserve our water sources by not polluting them with untreated wastewater. Both very vital in the preservation of water.”
Riggs Eckelberry, OriginClear CEO