About 40 million people rely on the Colorado River. But an extended drought and a century-old legal framework have pushed the system to a breaking point. Now, a federal plan threatening deep cuts has ignited a fierce political and legal war across the Southwest.
WSJ spoke with Arizona State University water law professor Rhett Larson, who broke down where the government’s framework falls short, why easy fixes won't solve the issue, and what structural overhauls are needed to protect a crucial regional economy.
Chapters:
0:00 The Colorado River’s importance
1:00 The failing federal plan and the math problem
4:21 Potential tech fixes and the economic problem
6:47 A full structural overhaul?
8:50 How Australia handled a shrinking river
10:05 The fight to keep the water flowing
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