More Need Than Ever for Drought Resilience on the Colorado River

The effects of climate change are already cutting deeply into the lifeblood of the U.S. West—the Colorado River.

2 minute read

April 27, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Colorado River

oceanfishing / Shutterstock

Ian James reports on the state of the Colorado River after more than two decades of scientists have decided is a "megadrought." The water level of Lake Mead has fallen 130 feet since 2000, and the reservoir is at 39 percent of capacity. The reservoir will soon have less water than any time since the Hoover Dam started filling the lake in the 1930s.

"The latest projections from the federal government show the reservoir will soon fall more feet to cross the trigger point for a shortage in 2022, forcing the largest mandatory water cutbacks yet in Arizona, Nevada and Mexico," reports James The lack of rainfall throughout the West and a meager snowpack in the Rocky Mountains could cause even more severe shortages and water supply cuts the next year, too, according to James.

James has more frightening details to share:

While the Southwest has always cycled through wet and dry periods, some scientists suggest the word "drought" is no longer entirely adequate and that the Colorado River watershed is undergoing “aridification” driven by human-caused warming — a long-term trend of more intense dry spells that’s here for good and will complicate water management for generations to come.

The article also includes coverage of the ongoing efforts to manage the Colorado River as it changes due to climate change, including the  Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), signed by seven states along the river in 2019. "Arizona and Nevada agreed to take the first cuts to help prop up Lake Mead, while California agreed to participate at lower shortage levels if the reservoir continues to drop," reports James. Arizona is in line for the largest cuts under the DCP.

The Biden administration also recently announced an interagency working group to support farmers, tribes, and other communities most impacted by water shortages.

Technology is also being deployed in the effort, reports James, including the use of artificial intelligence for scenario planning in the Colorado River Basin, led by Laura Condon, an assistant professor of hydrology and atmospheric sciences at the University of Arizona.

Friday, April 23, 2021 in Arizona Republic

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight