The shrinking Colorado River will impact the nation’s food supply

The shelves and prices at your local grocery store may soon look a little different. The Colorado River, which provides water for about 15% of our nation’s agriculture, is shrinking, and the current agreement dividing water use expires in 2026.

the The Imperial Valley in Southern California relies 100% on the Colorado River for its water. This valley receives less than three inches of rain annually, but still produces about two-thirds of the country’s winter production.

Farmers in the valley say Shrinking water levels Competing interests over the use of the river will badly affect the country’s food supply.

“A lot of people say that the Colorado River and its diminishing water supply is a problem that affects 40 million people, because those are the ones who depend on it. I think that number is very low. I think 100 million people depend on water from the Colorado River.” Colorado,” said fourth-generation farmer Andrew Leimgruber.

“When it’s November to March, the vast majority of lettuce, broccoli, carrots and all the winter vegetables come from either the Imperial Valley or just across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona,” Leimgruber said. .

The Colorado River is divided between seven states and Mexico. Farmers in the Imperial Valley are the largest users of river water.

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If the valley cannot produce enough crops, this may lead to… Long term problems.

“So, the big issue for us in California is our high labor cost, but also the ability to withstand pest pressure and things like that. One of the issues with water shortages is the lack of diversity in crops. Having that diversity enables us to take the pressure of pests and things like that,” said Stephen Benson, director of Benson Farms: “Keep Pests Under Control.”

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Because of the low water levels, some farmers in the valley are paid not to grow certain crops or to use less water. But this is not always enough.

“I can tell you it doesn’t cover our costs all the time. For example, if I’m going to install drip irrigation, I need to get $1,000 an acre. And I don’t get anywhere near that amount as compensation. That’s something we’re dealing with,” Benson said. Study more, because as we grow, it becomes more expensive to preserve the environment.”

The Imperial Irrigation District says it works with farmers in various areas Water conservation efforts To help part of the problem.

“We’re providing additional funding so they can buy drip systems and sprinkler systems, tap water return systems, all kinds of new technologies and precision laser grading of the field that allows them to continue farming the way they’ve always farmed, but just… , using less water.

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If the seven states and Mexico cannot reach an agreement on how to use Colorado River water by the 2026 deadline, the Bureau of Reclamation will step in and make the decisions.