The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. Drought impacts include worsening habitat conditions for several threatened and endangered species, wildland fire risks, reduced snowpack, changes in water availability and agricultural production; reduced recreation opportunities at National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Conservation areas; and impacts to over 20 Tribes for whom the basin is a physical, economic, and cultural resource.
The USGS provides critical science for understanding the complexity of drought issues and the impact of drought and compounding hazards, such as wildfire, on human and natural systems. The USGS produces a wide variety of actionable intelligence in the form of observation and monitoring networks, predictive models, and tools to support drought planning and understand drought impacts.