Perspectives from the Headwater State with Brian Macpherson
Brian Macpherson from the Colorado Water Conservation Board will present the major issues facing the Colorado River today, the state of the science of the river, the policy and legal framework under which the river operates, and what the state of Colorado is doing to face the challenges. The Colorado River system, including the local Eagle River, provides water to nearly 40 million people, irrigates nearly 5.5 million acres of land, and runs through 7 National Wildlife Refuges, 4 National Recreation Areas, and 11 National Parks. It is estimated to support $1.4 trillion in economic activity (1/12 of the U.S. domestic product) and 16 million jobs. Today, the river system is at a tipping point after a 21 year drought, with its largest reservoirs, Lakes Powell and Mead, at their lowest levels since filling, and the 2007 Interim Guidelines, which dictate operation of the river, set to expire in 2025.
