The Colorado River is an essential water source for the American West, sustaining the needs of millions of people and supporting agriculture, industry, and urban life throughout the Southwest. As it struggles with the impacts of climate change, this project explores the complex challenges facing the basin. The visual journey includes often-overlooked voices from Native tribes and traverses all seven basin states, including Mexico. Water management in these states are intertwined, but each faces unique circumstances and challenges. The river flows for 1,450 miles, beginning at La Poudre Pass in Colorado. The state’s relationship with the river has been formalized by the 1922 Colorado River Compact, but challenges persist amid ongoing drought and water scarcity. The river also holds significant economic and recreational importance for the state. In Wyoming, the Green River serves as the largest tributary to the Colorado River and is essential to the basin. In New Mexico, individuals, such as Lorraine Chato, struggle with water scarcity, having to fill up water tanks multiple times a week to bring water to their homes. The project also features images depicting the impact of drought, recreation, and invasive species in the Colorado River Basin. These images provide insight into the beauty and critical importance of the Colorado River and the challenges facing it.
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