The Lifeline of the West
Denver, CO
2021, Senior, Creative Writing
It starts as a single snowflake, soon joined by millions more. The ice crystals stack one upon another, compressing into layers and creating what is called snowpack. With each storm, it continues to build, reaching heights measuring higher than ten feet. Then, as spring begins to slowly warm the earth, the blanket of snow melts away. First, a trickle of water from the Rocky Mountain peaks, the runoff gathers momentum and makes its inexorable journey downstream to feed the Colorado River, the Lifeline of the West that supplies water to 40 million people across seven states and Mexico (US Geological Survey).
That’s the storybook version of the water cycle in the Western United States. Since 2000, the reality has looked far different as the region has been in persistent drought, one of the worst in over 1,250 years. Climate change has resulted not only in decreasing precipitation, but rising temperatures also have caused the dwindling snowpack to melt and evaporate even faster. Stream flows of the Colorado River have decreased 20% over the last century (Yale E360). Couple that statistic with a growing and increasingly thirsty population, and you have the plot line for a tragedy.
For six million years, the Colorado River emptied into the Gulf of California, a journey of approximately 1,450 miles. But at the end of the 20th century, the river ceased reaching the sea with hundreds of dams and diversions soaking up its flow about 70 miles short of the delta. Sitting on the border of the U.S. and Mexico, San Luis Rio Colorado was named for the river that once gave its city life; now it is a dry and barren sand bed. The upstream appropriation of water has meant that 95% of the wetlands in the Colorado River Delta have disappeared, an incalculable loss of an ecosystem that once was one of the largest desert estuaries in the world (KUNC News).
North of the border, two decades of drought have left an indelible mark. Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, is currently at 39% of its capacity and is forecasted later this year to fall to levels lower than when it was filled in the 1930s. Lake Powell is in similar dire straits with a recent analysis showing it is only 36% full. These declining levels impact area tourism and recreation, but also threaten the generation of hydroelectric power upon which millions of people depend (CNN). The alarming depletion of Lake Mead and Lake Powell demonstrates the gross overuse of the Colorado River’s water supply; simply put, we are in danger of draining the reservoirs dry.
Where does all the water go? About 70% is allocated to agriculture with over five million acres irrigated from the Colorado River. Western farmers are critical partners in addressing water scarcity, but remedies must be considered carefully as the river supports the production of 15% of America’s crops and 13% of its cattle operations; 90% of all winter vegetables consumed in the U.S. are watered out of the basin. While halting some of the region’s agricultural production would achieve significant savings, it also would have downstream effects that could impact rural economies and the global food supply. Most experts call for a more nuanced solution of encouraging water-efficient crops and farming methods and also utilizing technology to improve irrigation. These efforts are already underway and could be enhanced through government and market incentives (National Geographic).
Finding ways to reduce residential water consumption also needs to be part of the conversation. The average American family uses approximately 300 gallons of water every day, and over 10% of that is wasted due to unrepaired leaks. By switching to water-saving fixtures and appliances, we could reduce consumption by an additional 20%. Changing consumer habits, like encouraging people to turn off the faucet while they’re brushing their teeth or only washing dishes or clothes when there’s a full load, also could result in dramatic savings. Landscape irrigation offers another opportunity for stewardship, as homes in arid regions like the Western U.S. use as much as 60% of their water outdoors, and often 50% of that is wasted due to evaporation, runoff, or poorly designed systems (EPA). There is so much potential for all of us to do our part for water conservation.
If we are going to seriously address the issue of overconsumption, we will need to reexamine the 1922 Colorado River Compact, the agreement that governs the corresponding water rights for seven states and Mexico. It was ratified during a historic wet weather cycle when no one envisioned protracted drought, much less exponential population growth or the cascading effects of a warming climate. The Compact established water entitlements based upon unrealistic projections of water flow, but despite the indisputable evidence of the deficits, the enshrined allocations remain untouched (InTeGrate). However, as the Compact approaches its centennial anniversary, there seems to be a gradual acceptance that every party will need to make compromises. In 2019 the seven signatory states voluntarily agreed to a drought plan to ensure that Lake Mead and Lake Powell maintain necessary water levels (AP News). It was an encouraging sign that Western states recognized their shared responsibility for contributing to the water crisis and for identifying the solutions to remediate it. This collaborative attitude and acknowledgment of our interconnectedness through water will be essential in drafting new terms when the Compact expires in 2026.
Upstream or downstream, the 40 million people who rely upon the Colorado River all need to be swimming towards a more sustainable water plan. We can no longer be myopic; instead, we must recognize our interdependence requires the collective commitment of government, industry, and individuals. Like the first snowflake that is the foundation for the snowpack we rely upon for our water, we need to start somewhere, remembering that one by one we all can make a difference.
Works Cited
Snowmelt Runoff and the Water Cycle,www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/ snowmelt-runoff-and-water-cycle?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects.
Robbins, Jim, and Ted Wood. “On the Water-Starved Colorado River, Drought Is the New Normal.” Yale E360, Yale School of the Environment, 22 Jan. 2019, e360.yale.edu/features/on-the-water-starved-colorado-river-drought-is-the-new-normal.
Runyon, Luke. “Five Years Later, Effects of Colorado River Pulse Flow Still Linger.” KUNC, 9 Apr. 2019, www.kunc.org/environment/2019-04-08/five-years-later-effects-of-colorado-river-pulse-flow-stil l-linger.
Kann, Drew. “As a Megadrought Persists, New Projections Show a Key Colorado River Reservoir Could Sink to a Record Low Later This Year.” CNN, Cable News Network, 21 Apr. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/weather/western-drought-colorado-river-cutbacks-study/index.html.
Heggie, Jon. “Can the Colorado River Keep on Running?” National Geographic, 3 Aug. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/partner-content-colorado-river-preserving-stressed water-resources.
“Statistics and Facts.” Environmental Protection Agency, 18 Mar. 2021, www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts.
“The Colorado River Compact.” Interdisciplinary Teaching about Earth for a Sustainable Future, 14 Jan. 2020, serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/water_science_society/student_materials/720.
Cooper, Jonathan J. “Trump Signs Colorado River Drought Plan.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 16 Apr. 2019, apnews.com/article/nv-state-wire-north-america-ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-co-state-wire-34c4ce 93ba114120b1dad8ac4d28ec0d.
Reflection
Reflection
Born and raised in Colorado, I spend much of my time appreciating the outdoors and love to hike, ski, and bike this beautiful state I call home. Unfortunately, our region has been in a persistent drought for many years, and I see everyday how climate change is affecting our ecosystems and ultimately our way of life. I also am the granddaughter of multigenerational farmers whose livelihoods were threatened by drought and global warming. Clean and abundant water has always been an important issue to me. I monitored precipitation with a rain gauge beginning in elementary school. I dutifully checked the levels every morning, often waiting weeks before we received any snow to log, and then was disheartened to see how quickly it evaporated in the tube. It was the first time I truly understood how severe drought conditions are in the Western US. Living in a state especially dependent on water in the face of its scarcity, I am committed to a more sustainable future. I was inspired to write this piece because I need to be able to educate others about these complex challenges if I am to become an effective advocate for water policy.