Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West, experts say

[riversedge]

Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West, experts say
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-river-crisis-could-force-drastic-water-measures-across-west/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us


By

May 16, 2026 / 9:20 PM EDT / CBS News

Los Angeles — The Colorado River is in crisis, with a growing population taking more water from it as a hotter climate is drying up the supply.

The snowpack in the Rockies that feeds the river fell to record lows this winter, pushing major reservoirs downstream — like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — toward critically low levels.

Approximately 40 million people across the West depend on the Colorado River for water daily, with many taking it for granted. But the region could soon face drastic measures as the river keeps shrinking.

"The causes of those declining reservoir levels are multiple," said Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. "It's not one thing, but certainly this year we didn't get any help from Mother Nature."

Federal officials recently began releasing billions of gallons of water into Lake Powell, a reservoir in Utah and Arizona, to prevent disruptions in hydropower...............................

[Deuxcents]

1. Then why the multiple data centers and more being planned? This is going on not just out west..

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Should ask AI if humans can survive after AI drains all the water. /nt