Colorado River Trend 2026

Flowing 1,450 miles from the Rockies to the Gulf of California, the Colorado River is the lifeline of the American Southwest. Its waters are channeled through massive dams like Hoover and Glen Canyon, providing essential hydroelectric power and municipal water to over 40 million people. Farmers in California’s Imperial Valley, major cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, and diverse desert ecosystems all depend on this over-allocated, vital resource.