After more than 20 years of drought intensified by human-caused climate change, the Colorado River is in crisis, putting at risk massive agricultural irrigation operations that consume about 80 percent of its water.

How this affects you

Emergency water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir are severely impacting local recreation economies as water levels drop rapidly, damaging infrastructure and reducing fish habitats. This action aims to prevent Lake Powell from falling below its minimum power pool, which would jeopardize hydroelectric power generation and structural integrity, with long-term recovery of Flaming Gorge uncertain.