The Trump Administration has frozen federal funds intended for the conservation of the Colorado River, jeopardizing the survival of the tributary and the agreements on water distribution between the United States and Mexico. Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club in Arizona, expressed her concern about this action that halts the allocation of 4 billion dollars approved by Congress to preserve the water of the Colorado River.
According to Bahr, these measures put at risk the efforts made over the years to maintain healthy water levels in a river that suffers from drought. The Colorado River supplies water to 40 million people and more than 2.2 million acres of agricultural land across seven states, as well as providing water to indigenous communities.
The frozen funds are intended for programs that assist farmers in surviving without depending on crops that require large amounts of water. One of the affected programs is the Efficiency and Conservation Program of the Lower Colorado River System, which contributes to Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by water capacity.
Lake Mead, vital for several states and Mexico, has seen its level increase thanks to these conservation programs. However, factors such as overexploitation, global warming, and constant drought threaten the stability of the river, which is also a crucial habitat for flora and fauna and a source of hydroelectric energy.
The reduction of water levels could lead to cuts in consumption, as announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which would impact Arizona, other states, and Mexico. In light of this freeze on funds, environmentalists and legislators from various states have urged the Department of the Interior to release the funds to ensure the conservation of the Colorado River and the water distribution agreements.
