According to a recent comprehensive study by UC Riverside and the Utah Rivers Council, the most cost-effective way to conserve the dwindling waters of the Colorado River is by changing how farms use water. Agriculture consumes about 80% of water in the Colorado River basin and this research indicates that agricultural water conservation offers the most affordable way to substantially save water.
Researchers examined 462 federally funded Colorado River projects totaling about $1 billion between 2004 and 2024. The study found agricultural conservation programs saved water for as little as $69.89 per acre-foot. In contrast, new supply efforts, such as building reservoirs and wells, cost over $2,000 per acre-foot on average.
The study suggests paying ranchers and farmers to reduce flood irrigation, even temporarily, delivers meaningful savings at a low cost. Other such programs that decrease water use at a low cost include leaving fields unplanted, using "deficit irrigation," or replacing flood irrigation with precise sprinkler and drip systems.
