A first for the Colorado River

The Colorado River has been the source of man made lakes (Lake Powell, Mead, Havasu and Mojave) and massive irrigation systems in Arizona and California and drinking water for Las Vegas, Southern California, and parts of Arizona.

And for the first time, ever, the have to ration river water. the lakes are already too low for recreation and some are now too low for energy use as well.

The first thing to be cut off / reduced is the last thing to be completed, Arizona farm irrigation. California desert irrigation was cut a long time ago  to allow for drinking water from San Diego to Los Angeles County (minus LA, which stole its own water supply years ago from the back side of the Sierra Nevadas).

Obviously this is a bad thing for most of these states. But it portends future problems as well. Arizona grows some of the best alfalfa, red durum wheat (for pasta) and pecans. Arizona is the second leading producer of cantaloupes, honeydews, pistachios and dates for the nation. In the winter, the area around Yuma (base of the river) provides 70% of America's leafy greens.

If a similar super-drought hits the California lakes and aquifers - which is happening, but not to the extent of the Colorado system - about 50 billion dollars will be lost, including nearly 90+% of our Almonds, Avocados, Broccoli, Pistachios, lemons, tangerines, rice* and plums. And huge amounts of oranges, cotton, raspberries and garlic. It is the largest provider of dairy products**.

California, under water pressure for years, is moving towards drip irrigation, which uses lees than 25% of traditional methods, but start up costs are expensive. 

It is harbinger not only of future water issues, but the way will have to deal with them as agriculture and people vie for pieces of an ever shrinking pie.