Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Environmental & Climate Policy

Why the Colorado River Is Drying Up: A 1,400-Mile Crisis

The Colorado River is the lifeline of the American West, providing water to 36 million people and irrigating 6 million acres of farmland. But it's running out of water. Author David Owen's 'Where the Water Goes' takes you on a 1,400-mile journey from the river's source in the Rocky Mountains to its dry end at the US-Mexico border. This video reveals the shocking truth: the river was over-allocated from the start due to a historic miscalculation in 1922. We dig into the 'paper water' vs. 'wet water' gap, the legal absurdity of 'first in time, first in right,' and the hidden costs of efficiency—like how saving water can actually make the problem worse. Plus, learn why the river's decline is tied to everything from Las Vegas fountains to Mexican wetlands. A must-watch for anyone who cares about water, climate, or the future of the West.