Built on Dry Ground: The Water Reckoning in the West
The American West was built on a fundamental mismatch between water supply and demand. In this guest editorial for terrain.org, TFT President & CEO Joe Whitworth explores how “structural drought,” a long-standing imbalance between what nature provides and what the region consumes, has shaped the Colorado River system and much of the broader West. Tracing the roots of today’s water challenges back to early decisions that ignored watershed realities, fragmented policies and outdated approaches can no longer meet the moment. Instead, integrated water management and basin-scale thinking offer a path forward for communities, agriculture and ecosystems alike.
