Colorado and the West is running out of water . . . (Denver: environment, attorney)

[Sweden]

Hello all! Greetings from Sweden!

Ok, here's the deal, me and a classmate are trying to figure out (as a school project in Geography) the problems with the Colorado river, and the consequences it has on the average Joe. We've been reading this thread for a while, but... we're having a bit of a trouble compiling all that is being said, and many comments go against others.
We need facts on how to solve the water supply problem (but what is the exact problem really? How does the lack of water create problems for individuals as well as bigger industries? Does it create any problems for the nature/wildlife?), how individuals can and possibly has to do to survive or spare the water. Are there any restraints on individuals on how much water they can use? Are there any restraints on industries? On farmers?

Which state is the most affected by the water problem? Colorado, or another state? Are there any real statistics, or just opinions on this?

Appearantly, we also need to know some history behind the river: What was the water used for "before present time"? (sorry, we ran out of words) Was there any problems before the present growth of population?

We know this is a bit much, but we've been trying to find this information through other sources as well, and now we need to find out how more about how the population in the area views the problem (since you also know more about the background in other ways than normal sources.
Thank you all for your time!

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Sweden

Hello all! Greetings from Sweden!

Ok, here's the deal, me and a classmate are trying to figure out (as a school project in Geography) the problems with the Colorado river, and the consequences it has on the average Joe. We've been reading this thread for a while, but... we're having a bit of a trouble compiling all that is being said, and many comments go against others.
We need facts on how to solve the water supply problem (but what is the exact problem really? How does the lack of water create problems for individuals as well as bigger industries? Does it create any problems for the nature/wildlife?), how individuals can and possibly has to do to survive or spare the water. Are there any restraints on individuals on how much water they can use? Are there any restraints on industries? On farmers?

Which state is the most affected by the water problem? Colorado, or another state? Are there any real statistics, or just opinions on this?

Appearantly, we also need to know some history behind the river: What was the water used for "before present time"? (sorry, we ran out of words) Was there any problems before the present growth of population?

We know this is a bit much, but we've been trying to find this information through other sources as well, and now we need to find out how more about how the population in the area views the problem (since you also know more about the background in other ways than normal sources.
Thank you all for your time!

For a start, you might want to read a book titled "Cadillac Desert." It was written a number of years ago, but is a good "primer" for the history of water development in the Colorado River Basin and the challenges that it now faces. It would be impossible for anyone to give you a concise answer to your questions on this forum. This is a subject to which people have devoted their entire careers. You could also contact the Colorado Water Workshop ( Water Workshop ) They have had some excellent programs over the years on Colorado and western water issues.

Good luck.

[rickers]

Google "Colorado water data" look for the USGS site It's a huge site containing current river and lake information as well as groundwater data. Get on the site and snoop around a bit. There may be links of interest other than water. You can get on the "abandoned mines" page and there are some nice old photos in info on mines.
This site has a pages for every one of the United States.

[_Charles_]

Of course they say ten years, but how long has the present drought persisted in Utah, CO, and Arizona, maybe it's already here.

The last years of above average percipitation were in the mid 1990s. It is now almost 2008.

[Idunn]

...are trying to figure out (as a school project in Geography) the problems with the Colorado river, and the consequences it has on the average Joe.

Don't hold me strictly to this, but basically this a question of supply and demand. There is only so much water and with the present rather rapid population growth in the Southwest, present demands, or those projected in the near future, will exceed the water available.

The states affected are those of the Colorado river drainage, being California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I believe Wyoming included as a major tributary of the Colorado river, the Green river, has its headwaters in Wyoming. These are all arid to semi-arid regions to a large extent. There isn't nearly as much annual precipitation as the Pacific northwest region of the US experiences, or as, I presume, Sweden enjoys.

This being the case all water is valuable, with water law in the West apportioning rights to water by contract rather than geography. While the headwaters proper of the Colorado river is within the Rocky Mountain National Park of Colorado, by long standing law all the states down river have had legal claim to a portion of this river's water.

The basic problem is over population and misuse of what water there is. This has only lately become a serious issue because demand is beginning to overreach supply, and that is finite. Historically states such as Nevada never used all the water they owned, but rapid growth of such metropolitan areas as Las Vegas and Phoenix in Arizona have changed that equation.

Aside from relatively meager local precipitation, the only other significant source of water in these regions has been underground aquifers. This water being pumped out with deep wells. But such aquifers take a very long time to naturally recharge and have been drawn down of late far faster than they can recover. So while an equilibrium of use with this source possible, at present rates this is a rapidly diminishing water resource.

That leaves the Colorado river, which historically flowed into the Gulf of Mexico. So much of this river's water is diverted now that it never reaches the Gulf, and but a dry and dusty streambed there. I believe Mexico may also have claim upon this river's water, and has complained.

Sometimes easily overlooked in a wet climate, but water is the key to life. In a region without much this is very apparent. Having more or less reached the limit, the southwest US now in a position to consider how to adjust to a definite reality.

There is presently discussion of diverting water from northern Nevada to use in Las Vegas. Although semi-arid, northern Nevada receives more precipitation than Las Vegas, and moreover is lightly populated. But such diversion would not only do serious environmental harm to the region but also negatively impact the livelihoods of ranchers and others who call the area home. Virtually no one in northern Nevada favors such a project, but the greatest population and political strength is in Las Vegas.

This situation is very analogous to the Owens Valley of California, near Mono Lake, and how in the early part of the 20th century Las Angeles, being a fairly arid place, effectively stole the regions water. Located on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Owens Valley enjoyed a great deal of water as snow melt. That now largely diverted to Los Angeles, and the farms and orchids of the Owens Valley but a thing of the past.

Put this in another perspective and this water might be trees, or air or most any other natural resource. Past attitudes and behaviors have brought us to this junction, to what extent we prosper or survive henceforth dependent on how we adapt.

Good luck with your project.

[billyv]

Yeah I see articles every day about water problems and most importantly about losing one of the primary beautiful rivers in Colorado - The Poudre River - as they - developers, realtor's and greedy growth at all cost folks - now consider damming it up. I can't help but wonder if we are losing our minds and acting like ants as we consume (destroy) what we value simply in the name of growth. After looking into this, it becomes apparent that we average citizens take a passive position while those who benefit by growth take a more active position and erode the reasons we choose to live here. Boulder may be the only place, despite their criticisms, that has figured out limiting growth assures some management of the very natural resources that brought us here. As a marketing guy I study trends and see one that has to happen. People in general have lost their trust in government, corporations, whoever seems to bandy about being an expert or having our best interests at heart. Instead we are developing an online peer trust community. My neighborhood watched helplessly as we tried to stop PVH violate our low density zoning with two 4 story buildings that will soon abut 15 foot ranches despite the code saying "no drastic change in height is acceptable. The P&Z, city staff and then council just played brain dead as PVH plowed its agenda on through. Council, who was forbidden to talk to us in the neighborhood despite neighborhood representation being their primary charter, showed by their actions that neighborhood integrity will not stand in the way of growth. So if you use that logic and think about losing valued natural resources like the Poudre River...it is clear those that stand to win big bucks from it will win...unless we get off our lazy, complacent butts and step up to speak for things we care about.

[b.adams]

I saw a show on TV where the Chinese were working on the biggest water diversion project ever. They were diverting water across a mountain range (the himalayas) to the N. part of the country ... it was kind of unbelievable. Their problems make our look tiny. They displaced more people with one massive dam than the entire states of CO, AZ and UT combined. Easy to do in a communist country.

[Mike from back east]

Today's Denver Post has an example of water issues. People can't fill OUTSIDE hot tubs with their taps, must have water trucked in. They can wash a car INSIDE the garage, not OUTSIDE in the driveway. It may be the "law" but it's way too wacky for me.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_7755290

[Charles]

Here's some more info.

http://radio.weblogs.com/0101170/cat...coloradoWater/

[Mike from back east]

Expensive water for Castle Rock, CO: http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_7816049