California’s Water: The Colorado River
Summary
The Colorado River—a major water source for Southern California’s cities and farms—is shared among seven states and Mexico. Water use now outstrips supply. The environmental impacts of water use in this basin pose special challenges. This brief describes adaptation strategies so that the river can continue to provide essential benefits to the region.
This publication is part of a briefing kit that summarizes 13 of the state’s most pressing water management issues.
This series is supported with funding from the following sponsors:
Almond Board of California
American Rivers
Association of California Water Agencies
California American Water
California Trout
California Urban Water Agencies
California Water Service
The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation
Driscoll’s
Environmental Defense Fund
Friant Water Authority
Golden State Water Company
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Mojave Water Agency
Morgan Family Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
Northern California Water Association
Rosenberg Ach Foundation
S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
State Water Contractors
Sustainable Conservation
Walton Family Foundation
Water Foundation
Western Growers
The Wonderful Company
Why the Big Drop in California’s Colorado River Water Use?
Groundwater and the Colorado River
A Balancing Act for the Colorado River
The Search for Sustainability in the Colorado River Basin
New Water Official’s Views on Salton Sea, Other Priorities
Remaking the Salton Sea
A Path to Progress for the Salton Sea