A discussion of the Colorado River over at Tom Yulsman’s blog led to a helpful post on the consumption side of the ledger:
According to a 2008 study published in Water Resources Research (subscription required for full text), Lake Mead already is being overdrawn by 1 million acre feet of water per year.
John — Mead is going dry due to mismanagement (water is too cheap). I have been saying since Feb 2008 (release date for the 50% chance of drying out study) that higher prices would prevent such an occurrence: http://aguanomics.com/2008/10/reservoirs.html
Arg!
Let us not forget Big Oil Shale is buying up Yampa water in anticipation of mining. This will decrease the amount available for human population growth (in a sane world). This doesn’t help Colo flow any, but may take down a bit of the growing demand side.
Best,
D