After the drying up of rivers in Italy now it’s the turn of one of the most vibrant rivers of the world, Colorado River, to lose its water. There are chances that river’s water would shrink by as many as 50 per cent in the next 50 years. And if that happens then it would have dire consequences on the arid western states of America that rely on Colorado for their water supply. This shocking news has come from the International Panel on Climate Change. The reason behind is shrinking of glaciers, which keeps water flowing into the river and once again global warming is to be blamed.
The adverse affects would not end here and once the water level retreat then Arizona, Nevada and California would be forced to claim their full claim over all the water of the river and eventually many other states would be parched.
Glenwood Springs water attorney Scott Balcomb, who represents Colorado in the ongoing negotiations between the upper and lower basin states said:
Those states have water rights that pre-date Denver’s claims on the Upper Colorado. So in the worst-case situation, Dillon Reservoir, for example, could be drained and remain empty. We’ve given Colorado some time to develop new water. If the lower basin states live up to their intention to develop new water supplies, it may be possible to avert a possible impending train wreck.
On May 16 at Frisco a crucial meeting has been convened to tackle these issues before they really turn out of proportional.
Slowly but surely the scourge of global warming is turning more severe and the latest in the series to bear its brunt is Colorado River. Who is next?
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Source: waterconserve