Part 4/7:
Adapting to Scarcity and Competition
Despite the challenges posed by reduced water availability, farmers have successfully implemented new technologies and farming practices over the past three decades. Techniques such as high-density planting and the use of satellite-assisted equipment have allowed them to produce more crops with less water—“more crop per drop”—than in other regions of the country.
However, the repercussions of water scarcity are increasingly felt by all parties. The laws governing the allocation of the Colorado River water complicate matters; while farmers hold senior water rights, the depleting river raises concerns about future water availability.