Colorado River’s Underground Water Reserves Are Disappearing
Summary
A new study found that groundwater in the Upper Colorado River Basin is disappearing faster than in the Lower Basin during a recent drought. This is surprising because the Upper Basin usually has more water from snow. The study highlights the need to manage both surface and underground water together to protect the river.Key Facts
- The Colorado River provides water to seven U.S. states and supports farms, power, and wildlife.
- It has faced a long drought, causing major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell to drop to record low levels.
- Researchers tracked groundwater changes from 2004 to 2023 using satellites and water data.
- From 2020 to 2022, the Upper Basin lost about 4.6 trillion gallons of groundwater, nearly twice the 2.5 trillion gallons lost in the Lower Basin.
- Groundwater loss in the Upper Basin closely matched surface water shortages, while in the Lower Basin groundwater dropped before surface water did.
- Human water use may be the main cause of groundwater loss in the Lower Basin.
- The findings suggest that both surface water and groundwater must be managed together to sustain the Colorado River.
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