The Colorado River (2,330 km), which flows through several states (U.S. and Mexico) from its source in the Colorado Mountains to its mouth in the Gulf of California, is greatly affected by climate change and human use along its course. Lake Mead (the water reservoir of the Hoover Dam) located along its course in the state of Nevada exemplifies this dangerous decline in the river's water level.
For example, over the past 40 years, the lake has dropped 53 meters, to the point where, if this drop were to continue, the water would no longer be able to pass the multi-purpose dam (hydroelectricity, irrigation, etc.) and thus unable to operate it.
The population of Las Vegas, despite doubling between 1999 and today, is resilient to the situation. In recent years, it has adopted new habits, favoring the conservation of native plant beds, limiting the volume of swimming pools or installing solar panels to produce its electricity.
It even seems ready to take on new limitations related to declining water in the Colorado River system. In fact, Nevada will have to do without 1.1 billion gallons of water in its withdrawals starting Jan. 1. One reason for the decrease is the shrinking snowpack in the Rocky Mountains.
Read more in the Le Devoir newspaper report online » [in French]
