Climate Change Already Reducing Flows In The Colorado River: Scientists

"The drought-stricken Colorado River Basin has gotten some temporary relief in the past few weeks after winter storms have pounded the region with fresh rain and snow. In fact, as the Los Angeles Times reported, the recent precipitation has caused federal water managers to lower their estimates of the risk of water shortage in the near future.  

But while this is good news in the short term, experts are warning that the troubled Colorado River — which has been battling drought for the past 15 years — is still facing some serious long-term challenges. A new study, just released last week in the journal Water Resources Research, suggests that future warming could cause the river’s flow to decline by as much as 35 percent by the end of the century.  

In fact, the authors point out, rising temperatures are likely already responsible for a substantial portion of the river’s troubles today. Historical data indicate that the current drought has caused greater flow reductions in the Colorado River than previous droughts — yet the declines in precipitation associated with the current drought are not as severe as they’ve been in the past. According to Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist at the Colorado Water Institute and co-author on the new study, the major difference today is that the region is hotter than it used to be."

Chelsea Harvey reports for the Washington Post February 27, 2017.

Source: Washington Post, 02/28/2017