This is on point. I'm Megna Chacrabardi. The Colorado River begins as snow high in the Rocky Mountains.

It winds through seven western states and into Mexico where, in theory, it empties into the Gulf of California.

But no water has reached the sea for decades. And as everyone in the western United States knows,

the ongoing mega drought has reduced Colorado River water to historic lows,

to the point where even reservoirs are threatened.

Which is why the federal government asked the seven Colorado River Basin states to come up with a proposal for cuts in water use.

The feds gave the states until the end of last month, January 31st, to come up with a proposal.

Six states came up with an agreement. One state did not sign on.

California, which happens to be the most popular state in the US, 40 million people, and the nation's number one agriculture producing state in terms of cash receipts.

That's according to the USDA. So why did California go its own way?

What impact will that have on every state that relies on Colorado River water?

That's what we're going to talk about today.

And joining us now is Jennifer Pitt. She is the Colorado River program director for the Autobahn Society.

And she's with us from Boulder, Colorado. Jennifer, welcome to OnPoint.

Thank you. It's a pleasure to join you, Magna.

Okay. So first of all, for those of us who aren't living in the seven states in the west,

which are Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming,

just wanted to give them all their proper due, how would you describe what the state of the Colorado River is right now?

The state of the Colorado River is diminishing, I would say.

It's always been a variable river dependent on snowpack, which can be a lot in one year and less than another.

But in the 21st century, over the last two decades, it's been about 20% less than the average that was seen over the 20th century.

So there's less water.

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