Though overallocation is one reason the river is shrinking, reduced snowpack and increased evaporation caused by climate change are also contributing factors.
Colorado River
Posted inNews
An Asteroid Impact May Have Led to Flooding near the Grand Canyon
There’s remarkable synchronicity between the timing of a paleolake in what is today Grand Canyon National Park and the formation of nearby Barringer Meteorite Crater.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Inferring River Discharge from Google Earth Images
Critical flow theory can predict river discharge based on the spacing of standing waves captured by Google Earth images.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Rivers Carved the Canyons of the Central Colorado Plateau
A new study offers insights into a puzzling piece of the geological history of the Grand Canyon and surrounding regions.
Posted inNews
Potential Relief for the Colorado River’s Near Future
A new study reveals that precipitation could boost the iconic river’s flow in the next couple of decades despite the deleterious effects of warming temperatures due to climate change.
Posted inNews
Diez ríos que enfrentan contaminación, desarrollo y cambio climático–Y las políticas que pueden ayudar
Reporte anual destaca 10 vías fluviales que han llegado a encrucijadas en las cuales el apoyo del público puede determinar si reciben protección.
Posted inFeatures
Agriculture 3.0: Preparing for a Drier Future in the Colorado River Basin
Years of drought and climate change are causing water resources to dwindle in the Colorado River Basin. But farmers and scientists are collaborating to learn how to grow crops with less water.
Posted inFeatures
Fixing the Flawed Colorado River Compact
The 1922 Colorado River Compact ignored available science and overallocated the river’s water, a decision whose effects reverberate today. Now there’s an opportunity to get things right.
Posted inNews
Ten Rivers Facing Pollution, Development, and Climate Change—And Policies That Can Help
An annual report highlights 10 waterways that have arrived at forks: where public support could determine whether they receive protection.
Posted inNews
Biden Administration Considers Unprecedented Solution to Colorado River Crisis
As Colorado River Basin states prove unable to reach a consensus in reducing their water consumption, the U.S. Department of the Interior is investigating an option that defies the Law of the River.