How much of the Colorado River is used for farming?

How much of the Colorado River is used for farming?

Agriculture provides extraodinary benefits for humans and consumes the vast majority of the Colorado River’s water. Diversions from the River for agriculture total about 78% of the River’s entire flow, almost 4 trillion gallons.

What do humans use the Colorado River for?

The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water to nearly 40 million people for municipal use, supply water to irrigate nearly 5.5 million acres of land, and is the lifeblood for at least 22 federally recognized tribes, 7 National Wildlife Refuges, 4 National Recreation Areas, and 11 National Parks.

What crops are grown with Colorado River?

AGRICULTURAL USE Agriculture is the largest West Slope user of Colorado River water, using over 90 percent of the Western Slope’s diversions for crops such as wheat, corn, hay, vegetables and fruits as well as for cattle and sheep. Agricultural fields also provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

What are 3 uses for the Colorado River?

3. The Colorado River is Used for Many Purposes. The power of this river, the amount of water flowing through and the area it covers all allow for it to be used for many purposes including irrigation, a water source and a source of power.

Is river water is used for farming?

Initially, water delivered from the canal was used exclusively by agriculture. Also, this water can be used to help recharge groundwater. Rivers are an important energy source. This means that water that isn’t used on one farm is used on another, so that the same amount of water can be used to produce more crops.

Who uses the most Colorado River water?

Water used to generate hydroelectric power represents the majority of total water use, but is an instream use. Irrigation of crops is the largest offstream use of water in the CRB, averaging 85% of total offstream use over the 35-year timespan.

What percentage of Colorado’s water supply is used for agriculture?

Agriculture uses approximately 80 percent of Colorado River water to irrigate nearly 4 million acres, providing 15 percent of America’s crop output and 13 percent of our livestock production.

Is River water is used for farming?

What water do farmers use?

Irrigated agriculture relies on both surface water and groundwater to support crop production. According to the 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, more than half of all water applied as irrigation came from surface water with the remaining water obtained from groundwater sources.

Where can we store water for farming?

In agriculture water storage, water is stored for later use in natural water sources, such as groundwater aquifers, soil water, natural wetlands, and small artificial ponds, tanks and reservoirs behind major dams.