As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights

What do nearly 200 people say about a plan to buy powerful Colorado River rights? Go for it.

Western Slope communities and water agencies want to be able to use powerful Colorado River water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant to help the environment. Over 170 members of the public weighed in on the process — and all but one said they liked the idea. The Colorado Water Conservation Board, a state water agency, gathered the public comments in preparation for a hearing about whether to incorporate the water rights into the state’s Ins…

As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights

Lake Mead, impounded by Hoover Dam, contains far less water than it used to. Photo by Kevin Carter | Getty Images via The Conversation The Colorado River is in trouble: Not as much water flows into the river as people are entitled to take out of it. A new idea might change that, but complicated political and practical negotiations stand in the way. The river and its tributaries provide water for about 5 million acres of cropland and pasture, hyd…

As the Colorado River Slowly Dries Up, States Angle for Influence Over Future Water Rights

The wrangling over who gets what out of the Colorado Rivers is one of many escalating fights over ever more scarce water.

As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights

The Colorado River is in trouble: Not as much water flows into the river as people are entitled to take out of it. A new idea might change that, but complicated political and practical negotiations stand in the way.