Endangered status: endangered

Region: Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada

Threats: climate change, poor water management

References:

• CPR News (2021) If the Colorado River keeps drying up, a century old agreement to share the water could be threatened. No one is sure what happens next. By Michael Elizabeth Sakas. From cpr.org

• American Rivers (2022) Colorado River named America’s #1 most endangered river of 2022. Contact Matt Rice. From americanrivers.org

• PBS News Hour (2022) Drought-stricken Western states face deadline to cut water use from Colorado River. By Sam Metz and Felicia Fonseca. From pbs.org

• National Integrated Drought Information System. Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan. From drought.gov.

The Colorado River was labeled as the most endangered river in America. It supplies water to seven states, 30 federally recognized tribal nations, and thus drinking water for 40 million people. Climate change and poor water management are at the crux of the issue, with continuing rising temperatures and overallocation of water resources the river is unable to make up for this increasing deficit. Unless extreme water cutbacks are taken, we will deplete a resource that is essential for the region to survive.