The short-term, visible effects of drought are all around us, like Lake Mead’s “bathtub ring” or municipal directives to cut consumptive water use for swimming pools and lawn watering. But the long-term, invisible effects of drought reach far beyond individualized consumption behaviors.

The Colorado River flows nearly 1,450 miles through seven US states and Mexico. With a drainage basin of approximately 246,000 square miles, the river irrigates 5.5 million acres of agricultural land and provides water for nearly 40 million people.

The US’ agricultural industry accounts for 80% of total Colorado River withdrawals. How does water scarcity affect the complex, interdependent food supply chain?

An incentive-based framework for Upper Basin conservation was proposed in 2019- is it enough to address the longest running drought in US history?