As the Colorado River Shrinks, Washington Prepares To Spread the Pain
Climate change is having a significant impact on the availability of water worldwide. The Colorado River is one of the most important resources, providing water to seven U.S. states, including Washington. As the Colorado River is shrinking due to a combination of drought and high demand, Washington is considering ways to spread the pain of inadequate resources.
Impact of the Shrinking Colorado River
The shrinking of the Colorado River has serious implications for the water supply in Washington and other western states, including:
- Decreased agricultural production. Farmers in Washington rely on the Colorado River for irrigation, and the decrease in flow has negative impacts on their crops.
- Decreased fish populations. The decrease in water flow harms fish species living in the Colorado River, leaving many with fewer fish to consume.
- Decreased ability to generate electricity. The damming of the Colorado River produces hydroelectric power, and the decreased flow has made it difficult for producers to generate electricity.
Washington’s Plan
In response to the decreasing water resources in the Colorado River, Washington is planning to spread the pain across states that rely on the river for their water needs. Concrete plans are yet to be made, but the state is already discussing the possibility of water rationing and scheduling water deliveries.
Washington is also looking into other ways to manage the water resources in the area. Ideas under consideration include capturing more rainwater and recycling wastewater.
The Need for Action
The shrinking of the Colorado River is a problem that’s not going away anytime soon. Unless action is taken now, the lack of water resources in the area could have damaging effects on the environment and economy.
Washington is already taking steps to address the issue, but more needs to be done. All states that rely on the Colorado River need to work together to ensure that the current resources are used responsibly and preserved for future generations. As the water levels of the Colorado River in the southwestern United States rapidly decline, Washington is preparing to deal with the fallout. The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers in the United States and is both an important source of water for the West, and a recreation site visited by millions annually. Due to population growth, water-intensive farming, and climate change-driven drought, demand on the river has exceeded its limited supply.
In 2007, the Colorado River pact was introduced by seven western states, creating a system of legal agreements designed to provide water to the states, along with a shared understanding of the environmental share of the river. Now, as the water supply continues to dwindle and the pact reaches its limits, Washington is working to create a fairer and more sustainable water-sharing strategy.
The Washington State Department of Ecology has released a draft plan designed to share the burden of water scarcity. The plan proposes to reduce use by farmers who grow on the Washington side of the river by 44 percent, in part by introducing water-saving technologies and increasing the water flows in other rivers. Under the plan, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane will also be asked to better manage their water supplies, and reduce lawn and garden watering by 20-30 percent.
These changes will undoubtedly have an economic impact on the region. Some farmers may be forced out of business and communities dependent on water tourism may suffer from a loss of tourists. How the losses will be shared across the seven western states remains a point of contention.
Washington is leading the way in developing this new water-sharing plan, but they are not the only state with an interest in the Colorado River. In order to be successful, all of the Western states must work together to create a sustainable approach to water management. If Washington and the other states can work out a plan that allows everyone to benefit, then the Colorado River can remain an important source of water and recreation, for years to come.
