Western states of America are in the midst of a Megadrought. A water shortage was declared in the Colorado River in 2021 and it has left states that rely on the river basin in conflict with each other over water allocation. With reservoirs drying up & wildfires increasing, we spoke to Michael Cohen a researcher from the Pacific Institute to learn more about the water crisis in the western US.

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Faultline is produced by:

Executive Producer/Story Editor/Host: Andy Burgess
Story/Research: Aparna Ganesan
Editors: Andy Burgess & Ivan Veselov
Motion Graphics: Andy Burgess
Artwork: Tim Burgess of Wild Tales Illustration

Special thanks to Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher at Pacific Institute

Sources 🔗

NASA | Lake Mead Keeps Dropping - https://go.nasa.gov/3UFaB43

Twitter | NASAEarth 🐓 - https://bit.ly/3xW5cMc

University of California | Economic Impacts of the 2021 Drought on California Agriculture - https://bit.ly/3r85Mma

The New York Times | In a First, U.S. Declares Shortage on Colorado River, Forcing Water Cuts - https://nyti.ms/3DYhrf0

Bureau of Reclamation | Current Reservoir Storage as of September 25th, 2022 Major Reclamation Reservoirs - https://on.doi.gov/3SE7GH5

lakes Online | Lake Mead Water Level - https://bit.ly/3CcKjPe

National Geographic | Big changes are coming for the Colorado River soon and they could get messy - https://on.natgeo.com/3CfjHgQ

Bureau of Reclamation | The Law of the River - https://bit.ly/3LO6FcY

Colorado River Compact, 1922 - https://on.doi.gov/3RcMwyt

Central Arizona Project | Colorado River Shortage - https://bit.ly/3CcL0Il

Axios | Unprecedented shortage forces new water cuts on Colorado River - https://bit.ly/3Szb1Hh

The U.S. Department of the Interior | Interior Department Announces Actions to Protect Colorado River System, Sets 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead - https://on.doi.gov/3fkFtqf

ISPRS | A Strategy for mapping and modeling the ecological effects of US Lawns - https://bit.ly/3fmF5rn

CNN | Why the Great American Lawn is terrible for the West’s water crisis - https://cnn.it/3xUUd5F

PEW Trusts | Water Cuts Are Coming for the West - https://bit.ly/3BKq1eJ

Governing | Western Cities Begin Adapting to Life With Less Water - https://bit.ly/3SieESg

CNN | There’s $4B for West drought relief in the climate bill. Here’s how it could be used - https://cnn.it/3BMXOUC

University of Nevada, Reno | Rising temps stress water supplies in Colorado River - https://bit.ly/3SBNllz

The Union of Concerned Scientists - Infographic: Wildfires and Climate Change - https://bit.ly/3SDNAMO

Bureau of Reclamation | Addressing Drought Across the West - https://bit.ly/3dNbbw0

The Union of Concerned Scientists - Water, Wildfire, and Climate Change - https://bit.ly/3fprhw3

U.S. Drought Monitor | Comparison Slider - https://bit.ly/3RoX0uY

National Interagency Fire Center | Suppression Costs - https://bit.ly/3UIrBqc

Associated Press | Deadline looms for western states to cut Colorado River use - https://bit.ly/3UJQwte

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Progress on level of water stress. Global Status and acceleration needs for SDF indicator, 2021 - https://bit.ly/3RaWFMh

Pacific Institute - https://bit.ly/3r89fBc


Time Stamps:

00:00 - This US drought is so bad you can see it from space
1:30 - Why the US Government declared a water shortage
3:00 - The importance of the Colorado River
3:42 - The 7 Basin States
4:17 - Waters Wars: Upper vs Lower Basin States
5:44 - Why the 'Great American Lawn' sucks
6:50 - Will $4B be enough to mitigate the crisis?
7:14 - The effects of climate change in Western States
8:10 - The relationship between Wildfires and Droughts
9:22 - What does the future look like for the West?
9:49 - Is the Colorado River Compact out of date?
10:56 - Researcher address the Anonymous Chicken 🐓

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