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WRA Mini Pod: What's Happening on the Colorado River?
Manage episode 492041954 series 3434222
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In 2022, the water levels in Lake Powell dropped so low that experts worried the Colorado River wouldn't be able to flow past Glen Canyon dam. This situation is called deadpool, and it's one of many concerns surrounding a drier and hotter Colorado River.
All forecasting points to another dry year for the basin - this is expected to continue over the long term as climate change affects the West. If you're following the news around the Colorado River, you might know that we've come to a serious decision point. The river is getting drier while our use has only grown over time.
The current guidelines that manage the water in the river expire in 2026 - leaving the door open to create new guidelines that better manage the river and its drinking water supply into the future.
We talked a little about the future of the river with Kevin Fedarko back in January. So how are things going now?
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WRA is engaged in the process to create real solutions that consider the health of the river and the long-term sustainability for our communities.
Right now, the seven Colorado River Basin States are talking about these guidelines, but they haven't made much progress. We had a conversation with one of WRA's experts on the Colorado River - John Berggren. John has been deeply involved in the work to create new guidelines.
He gives a quick update about the state of our snowpack in the West, where the negotiations on the river are at, and what we need to see in the future to sustain a healthy Colorado River.
On this Two Degrees Out West Mini Pod: How are the Colorado River negotiations going?
2 Degrees Out West is a podcast from Western Resource Advocates, an environmental conservation organization that's focused on the Interior West. WRA works across seven states to protect our climate, land, air, and water. WRA protects and advocates for Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming.
2 Degrees out West is a podcast for advocates and decision makers who want to fight climate change and its impacts across the West.
On 2 Degrees Out West we talk with climate experts and advocates to bring you stories, experiences, and insights from their work in the places we call home.
It is Hosted by Dave Papineau
Want to be part of 2 Degrees Out West?
- Email us with thoughts, suggestions, and interviewees at [email protected].
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- Create a clip sharing "our Bright Climate Future for the West" and send it to us at [email protected]. to be included in one of our next episodes.
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Chapters
1. Intro (00:00:00)
2. How is the 2025 Snowpack? (00:02:01)
3. How Climate Change Makes it Worse (00:04:22)
4. How The New Guidelines Could Help (00:06:50)
5. What Comes Next? (00:11:36)
6. Outro (00:13:19)
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