Water wars: Political divides, lack of Latino voices are devastating the Colorado River

Vanessa Muñoz

Submitted photo

The challenges facing the Colorado River demand unity, not division. If we fail to act, we risk not only the collapse of a vital water source but also the economic and environmental stability of the entire Southwest.”

The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and flows an astounding 1,450 miles through the American Southwest, passing through 30 tribal nations and seven states. It is a crucial water source for 40 million people, sustains 5.5 million acres of farmland, and fuels a $1.4 trillion economy that supports 16 million jobs.

Beyond its economic value, the river plays a vital ecological role, nourishing diverse landscapes, providing habitat for 65% of the West’s wildlife and preserving sites of deep cultural significance. However, as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, and water demands continue growing, a water crisis is looming that is not just a regional concern but a bipartisan and national issue.

The Colorado River is experiencing one of the driest periods in the last 1,200 years, now intensified by rising temperatures. A 23.9% drop in rainfall, combined with a growing water demand reaching 124,457 acre-feet, has resulted in a 38.6% decline in runoff flow, putting immense pressure on this critical water source. It gets further depleted — often without us realizing it — and even the smallest action can have a rippling effect.

The sheer size of the Colorado River and its vast reach make conservation efforts incredibly complex, as its numerous stakeholders include cities, agriculture, hydropower, tourism and tribal nations, each with competing interests and priorities. Cities depend on it for drinking water,  hydropower to generate energy, farmers to irrigate crops and ecotourism for fishing and hiking.

On top of these challenges, a shifting political climate adds another layer of complexity, as changing policies, evolving water regulations and political tensions influence how resources are managed and allocated. The federal government’s repeal of the 2015 Waters of the United States rule, the weakening of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the 2015 Coal Ash Disposal Rule and the funding slash for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Environmental Protection Agency exacerbate the crisis.

With so many demands on a shrinking resource, finding sustainable conservation solutions remains one of the most pressing challenges in the West. Our next best hope lies with a group of people whose livelihood is at risk — Latinos.

With 63.6 million individuals comprising 19% of the total U.S. population, Latinos stand as the second-largest and fastest-growing demographic in the nation. Not only are they now the main drivers of the U.S. labor force growth rate, but they are also increasingly shaping the political, cultural and environmental landscape. According to the bipartisan 15th annual Conservation in the West Poll, Latino voters in the West view the pollution of rivers, lakes, and streams (70%), low levels of water in rivers (77%), and inadequate water supplies (69%) as extremely or very serious issues.

One-third of Latinos in the country call the Colorado River basin their home, and a significant number of them work in agriculture and depend on access to water for irrigation and crop cultivation. It is not a surprise that 83% of Latino voters in the West recognize the Colorado River as critical to their state’s economy, and 84% believe it requires urgent action.

Latinos have the potential to move the needle in water preservation efforts. However, significant barriers prevent them from engaging in legislative policy, including systemic inequities, lack of representation in decision-making spaces, and limited access to the necessary resources and information to advocate effectively.

Solutions to these barriers must include increasing bilingual education and outreach on water conservation policies, ensuring that Latino communities have a seat at the table in water governance discussions, and investing in grassroots leadership programs that uplift Latinos to become advocates for environmental policy, like Latino Advocacy Week, which builds capacity and familiarity among Latinos so they can advocate for their community. By dismantling these barriers, we can tap into the immense potential of Latinos to drive real, lasting change for the Colorado River and beyond.

Water security is a national security issue that should not be politicized, as it affects all families and communities across the nation. We must set aside ideological differences and lean into the power of our communities coming together for a shared purpose — a great nation for all.

The challenges facing the Colorado River demand unity, not division. If we fail to act, we risk not only the collapse of a vital water source but also the economic and environmental stability of the entire Southwest. It is time for us to come together, recognize the urgency of this crisis, and take decisive action to safeguard the future of our water resources for generations to come.

Editor’s note: Vanessa Muñoz is a water preservation expert and the waterways program manager at Hispanic Access Foundation, a nonprofit that connects Latinos and others with partners and opportunities to improve lives and create an equitable society. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.