Monday Top of the Scroll: Hay grown for cattle consumes nearly half the water drawn from Colorado River, study finds
With chronic water shortages afflicting the Colorado River, discussions about how to cut usage have increasingly focused on a thirsty crop that consumes an especially large share of the river’s water: hay that is grown to feed cattle and produce beef and dairy products. In a new study, researchers found that alfalfa and other cattle-feed crops consume 46% of the water that is diverted from the river, accounting for nearly two-thirds of agricultural water use. The research also shows that agriculture is the dominant user of Colorado River water, accounting for 74% of the water that is diverted — about three times the combined usage of all the cities that depend on the river. The study presents the most detailed analysis of its kind to date, including extensive data on where the river’s water goes across seven Western states and northern Mexico.
Related articles:
- Deseret News: What does the future hold for the Colorado River?
- Salt Lake Tribune: The Colorado River has been overused for years, but no one knew exactly where all the water was going. Until now.
- NPR: The Colorado River rarely reaches the sea. Here’s why
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Editorial – Don’t blame Las Vegas for Colorado River woes