This article has a good breakdown of where the Colorado's water goes.
TL;DR:
- 55% goes to livestock feed (hay, alfafa, etc.)
- 11% cotton
- 14% other food crops
- 4% thermoelectric power
- 4% commercial & industrial
- 12% residential
I'd be further interested to know how much of each of those are exported (the article mentions that a 2020 study estimated 10-12% of all US livestock feed crops are exported).
It seems ridiculous that we're putting the economic benefits of exporting these crops against the long-term sustainability of citizens living in the region.
TL;DR:
- 55% goes to livestock feed (hay, alfafa, etc.) - 11% cotton - 14% other food crops - 4% thermoelectric power - 4% commercial & industrial - 12% residential
I'd be further interested to know how much of each of those are exported (the article mentions that a 2020 study estimated 10-12% of all US livestock feed crops are exported).
It seems ridiculous that we're putting the economic benefits of exporting these crops against the long-term sustainability of citizens living in the region.