Basin-wide knowledge exchange for the sustainable management of the Colorado River

Abstract

The Colorado River is facing a crisis resulting from demands that have outstripped diminishing supplies, exacerbated by a severe multi-decadal drought and the effects of climate change. As participants directly involved in recent agreements seeking to address this challenge, we describe how a critical basin-wide lens has been developed through information transparency, including the evolution and voluntary exchange of computational models. To achieve greater sustainability, further resolve and commitment from water managers in the United States and Mexico is necessary to ensure the required enhancement of the knowledge systems that will be used to inform extremely difficult and critical decisions.

Kevin Wheeler

Oxford Martin School

Kevin Wheeler DPhil, P.E. is a researcher at the Oxford Martin School, Professional Engineer, and Principal of Water Balance Consulting.