Western Progress released a policy brief today challenging members of the Colorado River Water Users Association to pursue water supply strategies that emphasize conservation, energy efficiency, and protection of living rivers and groundwater reserves. Pointing out that “we won’t build our way out of this crisis,” the brief summarizes the twin challenges of rapid population growth and declining water supplies in the Colorado River basin. The water users will gather for their annual meeting in Las Vegas on Dec. 12-14, where they will discuss the regional impacts of global climate change.

The Rocky Mountain region, already noted for the ferocity of its interstate water battles, was identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of most vulnerable parts of the country to future water shortages due to climate change and variability. These changes are already underway, notes Western Progress, with declining snowpacks, earlier spring runoffs, and record high temperatures.

Throughout the West it is increasingly difficult to find water sources that are not already committed to another use. Most rivers have been dammed to capture high flows and to recapture water for subsequent use. Ground water has been tapped at rates well beyond the ability of aquifers to recharge, so water levels have dropped and associated surface water has declined. Alteration of aquatic systems for water development has caused extinction of species of fish, and others are in jeopardy. The West is approaching a zero-sum game in which the benefits of developing additional water are offset by the losses.

"More and more, we are seeing a realization across the West that the conservation and sustainability of water is essential to our future," said Lawrence MacDonnell, co-author of A New Western Water Agenda, a policy report out today from Western Progress, "this report seeks to extend existing efforts across the entire region and also suggest new ways of tackling increasing scarcity."

"The status quo simply won't work," said Denise Fort, the other co-author of the report and a professor at the University of New Mexico Law School, "we must find new ways in decrease our use of the limited water supply we face in the West."

The Rocky Mountain region, already noted for the ferocity of its interstate water battles, was identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of most vulnerable parts of the country to future water shortages due to climate change and variability. As Western Progress has previously noted, these changes are already underway with declining snowpacks, earlier spring runoffs, and record high temperatures. The need for new solutions to the water issue increases with each passing year.

It's not just a threat to polar ice caps, low-lying Pacific islands, and Alaska's glaciers
and permafrost. Climate change will have profound impacts on the Rocky Mountain
West, too: on our water supply, our recreation, our agriculture, our wildlife.

Progressives in the Rocky Mountain States often despair of seeing federal immigration reform that is practical, humane, enforceable, and serves the economic needs of the United States.

Education is how we invest in the future, and by many measures western states
simply aren't investing enough. We aren’t making the grade.

The American West has a vast potential for developing renewable energy , primarily wind
and solar power. The Renewable Energy Atlas of the West looks at current capacity, as
well as overall potential for wind, solar, geothermal and biomass.

In the eight states of the Rocky Mountain west, a little less than half of the land area is owned by the American public and managed by the federal government. Little wonder, then, that policies governing management of our region's parks, forests, rangelands, refuges, monuments and other federal lands are closely watched by westerners – and frequently the subject of heated debate.

Five of the eight fastest growing states in the country are in the West – Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. From disappearing open space, to overcrowded schools, to traffic congestion, the head- spinning pace of development in the West poses huge challenges. 

Western Progress urges the Federal Government to step up to the plate. Many advocates
believe the ultimate answer will be universal health care. States seem far more willing to tackle this crucial issue than do Washington lawmakers. Many states are already looking to provide extended coverage to their residents.

The Rocky Mountain Region in 2007 is seeing lower unemployment and faster economic
growth than the rest of the nation, but that doesn’t mean average workers in the Rockies
are enjoying fatter wallets. In states like Arizona, where service jobs are prevalent,
almost a third of all working parents have low hourly wages.