Yuma County, Arizona, grows 90% of the leafy greens the U.S. consumes in the winter. But the state relies on water from the Colorado River, which is at record lows.
\n\nThe Colorado River fills America’s salad bowl. It’s a vital source of water to Yuma County, Arizona, which grows 90% of the leafy greens the country consumes in the winter — but it’s nearing a crisis point.
\n\nWith the river’s water levels at record lows, Arizona is poised to take the biggest cuts: about 30% of its Colorado River supply in 2027 and 2028.
\n\nThose are the terms stipulated by the Bureau of Reclamation, which imposed a mandatory two-year plan after the seven states that use Colorado River water failed to reach an agreement. If the megadrought persists and water levels continue to fall, a 10-year management plan the bureau has proposed would allow even harsher cuts that could threaten the country’s winter greens.
\n\n“If you cut us off at the knees, or if you restrict the water, it has a national impact,” said Jonathan Lines, a member of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors. “It’s a national security issue and a food security issue.”
\n\nArizona’s agriculture is one rather…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/