The Colorado River’s largest reservoirs are heading toward a ‘system crash,’ experts warn

The warning comes as seven Western states and the federal government struggle to agree on new rules for managing the shrinking river.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A boat makes its way to Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell as high water marks indicate how much the reservoir has receded on Friday, April 24, 2026.

The Colorado River’s largest reservoirs are heading toward a ‘system crash,’ experts warn

The warning comes as seven Western states and the federal government struggle to agree on new rules for managing the shrinking river.

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