The Colorado River is a critical source of the West’s water supply, supporting 40 million people, nearly 6 million acres of agriculture, and tribes across seven states and portions of Mexico. At 1,450 miles long the Colorado River is the sixth longest river in the United States. The river flows through seven states and covers 244,000 square miles, about 1/12th of the United States. Known for its dramatic canyons, whitewater rapids, and eleven U.S. National Parks, the Colorado River and its tributaries are a vital source of water. An extensive system of dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts divert almost its flow for agricultural irrigation and urban water supply. Its large flow and steep gradient (10,184 ft above sea level to 58 feet in the Mexicali Valley) are used to generate hydroelectric power to several western states and Nebraska. This presentation discusses the geology, geography, exploration, national parks, and the state of the river today with its natural beauty, current difficulties, and solutions.

Jim Turner earned his master’s in U.S. History at the University of Arizona and worked as Historian for the Arizona Historical Society. He retired and became an author/editor for Rio Nueevo publishers where he authored six books and co-authored or edited a dozen more. He is working on two more books and recently created self-guided audio tours of historic downtown Tucson, Tombstone, and Old Town Scottsdale for an app called VoiceMap.