Groundwater depletion is accelerating as drought tightens its grip on the Colorado River Basin, with cities and agricultural operations increasingly relying on underground aquifers—the region’s primary source of water loss. Experts warn that over-extraction threatens long-term sustainability, exacerbating shortages already straining supplies for millions. The shift from surface water to groundwater reflects both immediate survival needs and deeper structural challenges in water management. Full details on how this trend is reshaping the basin’s future are available in the full report.
As the area dries, cities and farmers draw on groundwater, the leading source of water loss across the Colorado River Basin
