As Colorado River and tributaries shrink, a public power system frays

The Colorado River's shrinking water levels are causing the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, which supplies a significant portion of Colorado's hydropower and distributes it across the West, to generate nearly 30% less electricity than its average from 1978. This decline underscores a broader, long-term issue affecting the region's water supply and energy infrastructure. Such reductions are crucial because they impact millions of people who rely on this federal power system, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management and innovative solutions to combat the effects of climate change.