Colorado River drought drives unprecedented pattern of groundwater loss
Declining Colorado River flows and falling water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead are highly visible signs of the Southwestern megadrought.
The Colorado River drought has triggered an unprecedented trend of groundwater loss across the Colorado River Basin, according to new research from Virginia Tech. Traditionally, groundwater in the Lower Basin has declined more than in the Upper Basin. However, after 2019, the Upper Basin began experiencing rapid groundwater depletion alongside surface water shortages.
Using satellite data, soil moisture and snow-water storage estimates, Virginia Tech researchers found that the Upper Basin lost 17.4 trillion gallons of groundwater during the 2020-2022 drought, nearly double the 9.5 trillion gallons lost in the Lower Basin. This reversal of the historical pattern has raised concerns about the integrity of the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to 40 million people and extensive agricultural operations.
Lead author Esther Oyedele noted that groundwater loss in the Upper Basin was unexpected and did not follow the same pattern as surface water shortages. The study emphasizes that managing both above and below ground water sources is crucial to protect the Colorado River Basin's viability.
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