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.