All articles tagged with #colorado river
Originally Published 20 days ago — by Nevada Current
Western states relying on the Colorado River face a tight deadline to reach a new water-sharing agreement by February 14, amid worsening drought conditions, declining reservoir levels, and disagreements over water cuts, with federal officials urging a compromise to prevent severe shortages and potential hydropower loss.
Originally Published 23 days ago — by Politico
The Colorado River water dispute among seven states, including swing states Arizona and Nevada and conservative states Utah and Wyoming, is escalating, risking a water crisis for 40 million people amid drought and political tensions, with federal intervention efforts hampered by political deadlock and upcoming elections.
Originally Published 26 days ago — by Politico
Western states are engaged in a high-stakes dispute over the shrinking Colorado River, involving political, economic, and environmental tensions among states, industries, and tribes, with potential federal intervention to manage water allocations amid severe drought and legal conflicts.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Politico
The Trump administration has largely avoided direct intervention in the escalating Colorado River water crisis, which threatens water supplies and hydropower for 40 million people due to climate change and drought, with negotiations among states ongoing and federal officials taking a cautious, incremental approach to avoid political conflicts and legal battles.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by CalMatters
The Colorado River faces severe drought conditions with declining reservoir levels, prompting urgent negotiations among seven U.S. states and Mexico over water sharing. Federal officials warn of potential federal intervention if states cannot reach a consensus by November, as climate change exacerbates water shortages, threatening the river's future and the water supply for millions.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by Space
A study suggests that a meteor impact around 56,000 years ago may have triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon, leading to the formation of a paleolake by damming the Colorado River, with evidence found in driftwood and sediments in Stanton's Cave. Further research is needed to confirm this connection.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by Live Science
A study suggests that a giant meteor impact around 56,000 years ago, forming Barringer Crater, triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon that dammed the Colorado River, leading to a significant flooding event and geological changes in the region.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by KUT
The construction of dams and reservoirs on the Colorado River, including Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, has historically prevented catastrophic flooding in Austin by controlling floodwaters, especially during recent heavy rains that have replenished water supplies and managed flood risks effectively, although future extreme storms could still pose significant threats.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by The Washington Post
A new study using satellite data reveals that groundwater in the Colorado River Basin has decreased by 27.8 million acre-feet since 2003, doubling the loss from reservoirs and indicating a severe underground water crisis in addition to surface water shortages.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
The Biden administration is urgently working to secure an agreement among seven Western states on the allocation of the Colorado River's water before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. This effort aims to protect the river basin, a crucial water source for millions, amid increasing aridity and population growth in the West. However, significant disagreements persist between upper-basin and lower-basin states, making a consensus unlikely before the deadline. The federal Bureau of Reclamation is leading the negotiations, with the potential for a Supreme Court battle if no agreement is reached.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by PBS NewsHour
Navajo President Buu Nygren signed legislation for a proposed $5 billion water rights settlement to secure Colorado River supplies for the Navajo, San Juan Southern Paiute, and Hopi tribes, addressing severe water shortages and marking a significant step in tribal cooperation. The settlement, which requires Congressional approval, aims to provide essential water access to drought-stricken areas and is seen as crucial amid climate change and pandemic challenges.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NPR
Damage to the "river outlet works" at Glen Canyon Dam has raised concerns about the ability to manage water from the shrinking Lake Powell and meet obligations to downstream states. The discovered damage inside the important tubes has caused worries among water managers and stakeholders, with calls for re-engineering the dam and re-negotiating agreements for sharing the Colorado River. Fixing the pipes is seen as a short-term solution, with larger changes needed to address the long-term challenges of water management in the region.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
Plumbing problems at Glen Canyon Dam, which holds back the second-largest reservoir in the U.S., have raised concerns about future water delivery to Southwestern states supplied by the Colorado River. The dam's damaged tubes could complicate water management as Lake Powell reaches low levels, potentially impacting water supply for millions of people and agricultural producers. Federal officials are evaluating the issues, and states and tribes reliant on the Colorado River are working on a long-term deal to share the dwindling resource.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Los Angeles Times
Damage to the infrastructure of Glen Canyon Dam, including deterioration in steel tubes that allow water to pass through the dam, has raised concerns about potential water shortages in the Southwest, particularly for California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico. The dam's design poses structural risks under low reservoir levels, potentially leaving as much water stranded as California's largest reservoir. Federal officials are analyzing potential fixes, but the situation adds complications to long-term water management plans for the Colorado River, which has long been overallocated and has seen reduced flows due to climate change.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Daily Mail
More than 30 million Americans could face a drinking water crisis as major plumbing issues were found in the Glen Canyon Dam, threatening water supplies downstream to Lake Mead. The dam's river outlet works, responsible for releasing water to Lake Mead, have serious pipe damage, potentially leading to existing water shortages worsening for residents of California, Nevada, and Utah. The unfavorable inspection report suggests that the pipes may not be up to the task of releasing water, posing a significant risk to the water supply for millions of people.