Groundwater Loss in Colorado River Basin Reaches Critical Levels

A new study from Arizona State University reveals alarming groundwater losses in the Colorado River Basin, with basin-wide storage dropping by 27.8 million acre-feet since 2003—enough to fill an empty Lake Mead to capacity. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, utilized data from NASA’s GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellites over two decades to assess snow, surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater levels across seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
The findings highlight the severe impact of aridification on the region, with groundwater losses exacerbating the challenges posed by the shrinking Colorado River. This critical loss of water resources threatens agricultural productivity, drinking water supplies, and ecosystem health. The study underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies to address the growing water crisis in the western United States.

Published: 5/27/2025