Colorado River's Missing Water Solved

By Pat Chen

New research has finally uncovered why the Colorado River consistently experiences lower-than-expected water levels: warmer and drier spring conditions are causing plants to absorb significantly more snowmelt. This increased plant absorption, occurring before the water can reach the rivers, accounts for nearly 70% of the river's water shortfall and is directly linked to the ongoing Millennium drought.

New research has finally uncovered the reason for the Colorado River's consistently lower-than-expected water levels, even when snowpack is promising, as reported by ScienceDaily.
According to ScienceDaily, the study reveals that warmer and drier spring conditions are causing plants to absorb a greater amount of snowmelt.
This increased absorption by plants occurs before the snowmelt can reach the rivers, contributing significantly to the water deficit, ScienceDaily noted.
ScienceDaily highlights that this plant-driven absorption accounts for nearly 70% of the Colorado River's water shortfall.
The findings directly link this water deficit to the ongoing Millennium drought, as detailed by ScienceDaily.