The Colorado River system is racing toward a potential breaking point, with water experts warning that Lake Mead and Lake Powell could face a “system crash” within the next few years unless states dramatically reduce water consumption.
A new report from a group of leading Colorado River researchers and former water officials warns that the Southwest's two largest reservoirs are approaching levels at which they would lose much of their ability to function as water storage systems. Rather than serving as buffers during drought years, the reservoirs could effectively become pass-through channels that move water downstream as it arrives.
