The Colorado River resides in North America and is 1,450 miles long. It extends from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows southwest through six other states to Mexico. In the 19th century, colonization of this region was limited to simple access to the Colorado River. At the time, the adjacent water was used strictly to support life. Today, thanks to our advanced methods of processing and transporting water, water is known for its looser sense of “life” and it makes economic sense. Today, we use water for more than just drinking it. We use water to spark industry, mass produce agriculture, generate electricity, and even for recreational purposes. With our new thirsts, we are faced with sky-high demands for water. As we use this water for economic purposes, we withdraw increasing amounts from the river. The returned water is then of significantly lower quality, leading to harmful effects on biological life. Compounding the problem, the Colorado River has been experiencing a drought since 1999. Currently, according to the Bureau of Reclamation, most areas of the river are experiencing extreme drought conditions. The Colorado River is not only deteriorating, but also drying up due to climate change and poor water management. As a result, modern human development is hampered and the environment is permanently scarred. Therefore, to prevent further damage, local and state authorities should plan to change water wasting methods. management.Mismanagement of water is a key problem leading to the devitalization of the Colorado River. Our current water management methods lead to wasted water through evaporation, leaks, excessive pumping and unnecessary use. Additionally, any use we make of water degrades it and in most cases the water is returned to the river at this reduction...... middle of paper...... Faludi, Jeremy . “Save the world, drop by drop.” The world is changing: change the way you think. The world is changing, August 6, 2006. Web. November 10, 2014.Kelly, Shannon. “CP-LUHNA.” Water development, extraction and diversion. Luhna, December 8, 2002. Web. November 11, 2014. Reeve, Ross. UNITED STATES. Claims office. Drought in the upper Colorado River basin. 2014. Internet. November 14, 2014. Salazar, Ken. “Colorado River Problems.” Remarks prepared for the annual meeting of the Colorado River Water Users Association. US Department of the Interior. Las Vegas. December 12, 2010. Speech. Swan, Bill. “The Colorado River.” Moving waters: the Colorado River. Moving Waters, March 5, 2006. Web. November 7, 2014. United States. Claims office. Consumptive uses and losses. 2004. Print.United States. Environmental Protection Agency. How to conserve water and use it efficiently. 2014. Internet. November 8 2014.