Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West

Los Angeles — The Colorado River is in crisis , with a growing population taking more water from it as a hotter climate is drying up the supply. The snowpack in the Rockies that feeds the river fell to record lows this winter , pushing major reservoirs downstream — like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — toward critically low levels. Approximately 40 million people across the West depend on the Colorado River for water daily, with many taking it for granted. …