The Colorado River is in crisis — These experts met to discuss what’s next

On the heels of a warm, dry, winter, the Colorado River is at a turning point. Its biggest reservoirs are draining, climate change is making the climate warmer and drier, and leaders have not been able to come up with a plan to reduce water use.

This crisis point was the focus of a conference at CU Boulder’s school of law last week, where leaders, water managers, and lawyers gathered to discuss the future of the basin.

This context shaped conversations at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at CU Boulder’s School of Law on June 4 and 5.

Water experts, attorneys and Colorado River Basin leaders gathered for the 46th annual conference on the Colorado River. This year’s theme was “Searching for Solutions in the Face of Uncertainty,” and was co-hosted by the Water and Tribes Initiative.

Caroline Llanes, Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s rural climate reporter, was there, and she told Maeve Conran more about what she heard.

Brad Udall, a water and climate researcher at Colorado State University, said, “The climate future looks awful. Much of the same and worse.”

This report was shared with us via Rocky Mountain Community Radio, a network of public media stations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, including KGNU.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.