CNN recently posted an article explaining how the Colorado River has been drying. The culprit: most likely climate change. The river runs from Colorado, through Utah and Arizona, to California. It is known as a consistent water source for the inhabitants of some of the driest regions of the United States. US Geological Survey scientists estimate the river contributes to roughly “$1 trillion of economic activity each year.” This could be a huge issue if climate change isn’t able to be controlled and countered. I am not sure the approach to this, but I understand the severity of the situation. Many scientists agree that warming due to greenhouse gas emissions is the most significant culprit. The warming of the Earth by just a bit over 1 degree Fahrenheit can reduce the rate of flow of the river by nearly 10%. The Earth is warming at a rate unheard of in modern history and the Colorado River will only continue to dry.
The Colorado River drying will not only affect the water source for the people living near it, but it will also affect the agriculture. The soil in the area relies on moisture from the river. Without it, it will become much more sand-like and will eventually blow away, causing even more issues. This means that estimates on the effects of climate change will be the at far extreme of the ranges. It is estimated that 5 million acres will be affected, and even worse, 40 million people. Snow is a protective shield for water, since it is able to reflect a large portion of sunlight back and prevents water from evaporating. However, with the melting snow in Colorado, more water is exposed to light and more evaporates due to this. Eventually, the warming of the Earth will dry the Colorado River entirely, and many people will be effected. It is our duty to attend to this sustainability issue.