Episode notes
What happens when the foundation of the system that built the West starts to crack? In the early 2000s, the Colorado River Basin entered what climate scientists refer to as a megadrought, the driest period in over 1,200 years. As temperatures rose and runoff declined, our demand for water quickly outpaced a shrinking supply. Reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead began to drop — fast — revealing deep structural flaws. This episode unpacks the engineered risks, outdated policies, and looming threat of Deadpool, a point where Glen Canyon Dam may no longer be able to release any water downstream to the millions of people in Nevada, Arizona, California, and Mexico, whose lives depend on it. Part 4 of a 6-part series.
To keep up with the pod and for photos of Lone Rock and Glen Canyon Dam, follow @lifeblood.pod on Instagram.
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Keywords
rivercolorado riverconservationnatureenvironmentriver ecologysouthwestgrand canyondesertriver conservationcolorado plateaufour cornerscoloradoutaharizonawater resourcesamerican westlake powellglen canyondam removaldamglen canyon damriver ratraftingwater rightswinters rightsdroughtmegadroughtwater politicsriver restorationsustainable watergrand canyon raftingcolorado river compactresevoirslake meadhyrdopowerhydrologycolorado river hydrologyhumpback chubenvironmental studiesarizona riversnevada water issuesutah water conservationcalifornia water policiescolorado river basinwestern U.S. water crisisdrought management
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