Western Water

The Colorado River, vital for seven states, is over-allocated, with water rights exceeding its volume. NASA's Tom Painter studies snowmelt, which provides 80% of the river's water. Dust from the Southwest accelerates snowmelt by darkening snow, causing it to absorb more sunlight. Research shows dust causes snow to melt 3-4 weeks earlier, reducing river volume by 5% annually. This early melt affects plant growth and water usage. The dust is largely human-caused, mainly from grazing animals. Stabilizing soil could delay snowmelt and conserve river water.

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