The Indicator from Planet Money · Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Parts of the Western United States are experiencing severe water shortages due to a combination of factors, including a century-old Colorado River agreement that divided water among seven states. The region relies on melting snowpack for water, but this has been in decline due to warmer temperatures, while growth and consumption continue unabated.
“As we talked about, many parts of the Western US are essentially desert or at least semi-arid. They survive because of a Colorado River agreement from over a century ago.”
“Today though, many parts of the region are facing a serious drought. Though Western states get a lot of their water from melting snow pack, and for decades, that snow pack has been on the decline.”
“Now, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, they are at historically low levels. This is a big deal.”