What happens if the Colorado River keeps drying up?
You may have heard this before: The Colorado River, which supplies drinking water to seven states in the US and two in Mexico, is the lifeblood of the American West and beyond. It’s drying up at an alarming rate, threatening cities, industries, agriculture, and energy sources. As it shrinks, rich ecosystems across its 1,450 miles are also disappearing.
In this issue of the Highlight, Vox’s reporters across the science, health, climate, and Future Perfect teams explore the interconnected causes of this crisis, the startling consequences that are already reshaping life in this important region of the world, and the difficult tradeoffs we may need to accept to avert disaster.
Wyatt Hersey for Vox
The worst-case scenario for drought on the Colorado River
One in eight Americans depend on a river that’s disappearing.
By Umair Irfan
Benji Jones/Vox
You — yes, you — are going to pay for the century-old mistake that’s draining the Colorado River (Coming Tuesday)
A huge amount of US food is grown in the desert using water from a river that’s drying up.
By Benji Jones
Wyatt Hersey for Vox
Let’s talk about the biggest cause of the West’s water crisis (Coming Wednesday)
The Colorado River is going dry ... to feed cows.
By Kenny Torrella
Millie von Platen for Vox
The devil lurking in the dust (Coming Thursday)
How extreme weather is driving a deadly fungus further into the American West
By Keren Landman
Millie von Platen for Vox
These 8 species depend on the Colorado River. What happens as it dries up? (Coming Friday)
Wildlife needs water, too.
By Benji Jones
CREDITS
Editors: Sam Oltman, Brian Resnick, Adam Clark Estes, Bryan Walsh
Copy editors/fact-checkers: Elizabeth Crane, Kim Eggleston, Tanya Pai, Caitlin PenzeyMoog
Additional fact-checking: Anouck Dussaud, Sophie Hurwitz
Art direction: Dion Lee
Audience: Gabriela Fernandez, Shira Tarlo, Agnes Mazur
Production/project editors: Lauren Katz, Nathan Hall
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By: Samantha OltmanBrian ResnickAdam Clark EstesBryan Walsh
Title: The 100-year-old-mistake that’s reshaping the American West
Sourced From: www.vox.com/the-highlight/23682697/colorado-river-drought-100-year-old-mistake-thats-reshaping-the-american-west
Published Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:27:46 +0000
