Home / Environment / Drought Hits Upper Colorado River Basin Groundwater Hard
Drought Hits Upper Colorado River Basin Groundwater Hard
15 Oct
Summary
- Upper Basin groundwater loss notably faster than Lower Basin.
- Study tracked groundwater changes from water year 2004-2023.
- Groundwater loss could intensify surface water shortages.
A recent study found that the Upper Colorado River Basin experienced a significantly faster rate of groundwater loss compared to the Lower Basin during a period of extreme drought. This finding was unexpected, as the Upper Basin's snow-fed water system was anticipated to be more resilient.
The research, which analyzed hydrological data from water year 2004 to 2023, indicated that groundwater depletion in the Upper Basin closely mirrored surface water shortages. In contrast, groundwater in the drier Lower Basin appeared to deplete before surface levels, suggesting human water demand was a primary stressor there.
Over the study period, the Upper Basin lost an estimated 4.6 trillion gallons of groundwater, nearly double the 2.5 trillion gallons lost in the Lower Basin. This continued depletion could further reduce groundwater's contribution to rivers, intensifying the feedback loop between groundwater loss and surface water scarcity. The study underscores the critical need to manage both surface and underground water resources cohesively to safeguard the Colorado River Basin.
