As the Colorado River Basin dries, farmers like Jace Miller in Pinal County, Arizona, are turning to groundwater, which is disappearing faster than surface water. New data from Arizona State University reveals that since 2003, over half of the water lost in the basin has been groundwater—33.6 cubic kilometers, equivalent to 8,000 football stadiums. This depletion is driven by shrinking river allocations and growing agricultural and urban demand.
Hydrologist Karem Abdelmohsen compares groundwater to a savings account, warning that over-reliance poses financial and environmental risks. While groundwater is a critical buffer during droughts, its unsustainable extraction leads to dry wells, land subsidence, and saltwater intrusion. Unlike the Colorado River, governed by interstate agreements, groundwater is regulated inconsistently across states, complicating management. As climate change intensifies, the American West faces a deepening water crisis rooted in overexploitation of its hidden reserves.
Solutions exist, but without coordinated regulation and sustainable practices, the region’s aquifers may not recover for decades.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing