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Diagram of how the states are divided between the Upper and Lower Basin.
The Colorado River basin is divided into sub-basins through policies and engineering. One policy is the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which separated the river into two separate regions, the Upper and Lower Basins. The Upper Basin consists of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The Lower Basin is composed of California, Nevada, and Arizona. The way these states are divided up is a looming problem. Some of the states are in both basins but are depicted in one. These states include New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. They are supposed to only take water from one of the basins but they take water from both. For example, Arizona might take water from the Upper Basin even though it is technically in the lower.
This is an issue because if the Upper Basin runs out of water, it might be because of a Lower Basin state stealing water from them. It’s possible this could be the cause of a civil war. In addition, there is currently a water shortage because of climate change and human usage of water. In 2026, the Colorado River Compact guidelines will expire, and new ones must be created. Now the states in both the Upper and Lower basins are fighting over their share of the water and who should take cuts in the water supply first.
Map of the Upper and Lower Basins.
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