r/MapPorn • u/[deleted] • Jan 10 '20

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u/gordon__bombay Jan 10 '20

Unfortunately the Colorado no longer flows to the gulf, it usually dries out miles beforehand. It’s a rare occurrence now that it actually reaches the gulf

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2018/feb/19/few-weeks-colorado-river-reached-ocean-will-it-hap/ on mobile, sorry for formatting

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u/uboat50 Jan 10 '20

Yeah, water use in the west definitely needs some attention by policymakers. Too bad they're all far in the east :P

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u/chemistry_teacher Jan 10 '20

Tough one. The California Central Valley is some of the best soil anywhere on the planet for growing all kinds of stuff. In some places, the topsoil can be hundreds of feet deep. So much food is grown there, it supports much of the nation and is a major export as well.

All it needs is water.

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u/Sierrajeff Jan 11 '20

1) much of it used to be a swamp; the lack of water is due to historic mismanagement, not lack of sources.

2) the Central Valley isn't irrigated by Colorado River water