Proposal to Utilize Mid-Southern Water to Augment Green River System
What happened
A proposal suggests a method to alleviate water scarcity in the American West by utilizing excess water from mid-southern and Gulf Coast states. This plan involves installing major pipelines to transfer flood waters east of the continental divide to major western-flowing rivers, such as the Green River. The collected water could then be transported to the San Juan River in northwestern New Mexico, which would replenish the depleted Glen Canyon Reservoir and provide water for states relying on the Colorado River. This concept is discussed in the context of managing the challenges posed by extreme weather events, including massive flooding and drought.
Why it matters
The proposal addresses the long-term water security challenges facing the arid Western states by proposing a massive infrastructure shift. If implemented, this plan would fundamentally alter the resource management of the Green River system, which feeds the Snake River and the Columbia River. The viability of this plan hinges on securing the necessary funding and political support for such large-scale water projects.
Who's involved
- Green RiverA tributary of the Colorado River that is the focus of the water transfer proposal.
- Snake RiverThe river system that receives water from the Green River.
- Columbia RiverA major river system in North America that is functionally linked to the proposal.
- agricultureA potential beneficiary of the proposed increased water availability.
- IdahoA state whose water allocation and usage might be subject to major changes.
Keep exploring
The entities involved
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Green River
river in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, in the United States, that is a tributary of the Colorado River
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Snake River
River in the United States
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Columbia River
river in North America; flows from British Columbia, through Washington, and along the Washington-Oregon border to the Pacific Ocean