The Colorado is America’s Most Endangered River

Mark Twain once said, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” His words ring true today about another river, the Colorado, that many call the lifeblood of the West. In some places the Colorado River is drained dry, in others its flows are so depleted and manipulated that fish and wildlife are federally listed as “endangered,” and in yet others more dam/diversion/pipeline projects are proposed that would drain the last legally allowed drops of water out of the river. We can no longer deny it – the Colorado is the Most Endangered River in America. Today, over 30 million people throughout the Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico depend on the Colorado River’s water. In 30 years, that total number is likely to double. We must innovate and think deeply about how to use and conserve water far more wisely; we also need to think more seriously about overall population growth and local growth patterns...more