Presenter: Hello! This is Saving Our Planet. In our studio today is Dr. Laura Hopgood, a Professor of Geology at University of Denver. Good morning, Dr. Hopgood!

Dr. Hopgood: Good morning!

Presenter: Dr. Hopgood, last spring your latest book "The Future of the Colorado River" was on New York Times Best Seller List for 3 weeks. Congratulations!

Dr. Hopgood: Thank you!

Presenter: So, what's so special about the Colorado River?

Dr. Hopgood: Unfortunately, the Colorado River, like many other rivers that flow in dry hot climates, is dying at the hands of man. It's time to think about saving it.

Presenter: But the Colorado River is one of the major American rivers! It flows through seven states! It's the iconic river at the bottom of the Grand Canyon! What do you mean, it's dying?

Dr. Hopgood: The fact that it flows through seven southwestern states is exactly the reason. More than half of them have very hot and dry climates with very little rain and huge deserts. At the same time, these states are experiencing growth of population and agriculture. The Colorado River is the key source of water in these states which is not enough for all those ambitious new developments.

Presenter: What kind of developments? Can you give an example?

Dr. Hopgood: Sadly, more than one! For example, most of Utah's counties have over a dozen golf courses each. Those require a ridiculous amount of water to provide huge green grassy areas, and many of them are in the middle of a desert. And if this was not enough, there is a proposal to build a 750-⁠million dollar beach club with 300 luxury homes around a 20-⁠acre surfing lake in the middle of a California desert!

Presenter: I thought California was an environmentally friendly state!

Dr. Hopgood: And yet, desert states want to encourage economic growth, despite the basic fact that they simply cannot keep growing without limits.

Presenter: Is the Colorado River the only source of water there?

Dr. Hopgood: There's also ground water that accumulates under the ground from rain, snow melts and other sources - but very slowly. The amount we have has taken thousands if not millions of years to gather. If we pump it dry, it's not coming back any time soon! However, this is the water that is used by many farmers, and there are no laws protecting how much water can be taken from the ground. Besides, ground water is not completely independent from surface water. Pumping too much ground water can also dry up lakes and rivers, the Colorado River included.

Presenter: Is there any solution to this?

Dr. Hopgood: There have been several absurd proposals from bringing icebergs from polar caps to building a pipeline from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River.

Presenter: I didn't mean crazy proposals like that. Do you personally see any realistic solutions?

Dr. Hopgood: States have to work together to make practical steps towards conservation, to limit unnecessary water usage both above and below ground. Some sacrifices will have to be made. At the moment the water from the Colorado River is divided between the seven states that it flows through, based on the agreement that was signed in 1922. Back then they gave each state the right to use more water than actually existed. It is surprising the Colorado River still flows. Today, no one wants to deliver the bad news, but unless we face the facts, the result will be tragic.

Presenter: Dr. Hopgood, I hate to say good-⁠bye to you on such a sad note, but thank you for coming and sharing your concerns! I hope there will be an improvement to this tragic situation.

Dr. Hopgood: I hope so too.