55% of Colorado River's water used for crop irrigation, 65% for cattle feed; river at low levels due to megadrought and overuse, with implications for 2026 water agreements.
A study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals that over half of the Colorado River's water is used for crop irrigation, with nearly two-thirds of that allocation serving cattle feed crops. The river, which supplies water to over 40 million people and 2 million hectares of cropland, is currently at historically low levels due to ongoing megadrought and overuse. The research, which provides a comprehensive water budget including indirect losses, may have implications for policymakers as six legal agreements concerning the use of the river's water are set to expire in 2026.
March 28, 2024
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