Search Climate Insights Directory

Research by the Union of Concerned Scientists and University of California, Merced, indicates that emissions from the 'Carbon Majors'—the 122 largest industrial carbon producers—are responsible for approximately half of the climate-driven reductions in snowpack and streamflow, and increases in irrigation demand across the western United States. The analysis highlights specific 'hot spots' in California and the Pacific Northwest, noting that these emissions contributed to a 15% reduction in April snowpack and a 6.1% decrease in warm season streamflow. In California's Central Valley, 10% of observed groundwater loss is attributed to these companies. The document argues that the fossil fuel industry should be held financially accountable for these damages, as local governments and vulnerable communities currently bear the economic costs of adaptation and infrastructure failure.

As of March 30, 2026, the western U.S. is experiencing a historic snow drought, with snow water equivalent at its lowest record for April 1 and 65% below the 1991-2020 normal. This condition is attributed to a record-warm winter and a record-shattering March heat wave fueled by heat-trapping pollution. Long-term trends from 1955 to 2023 show an 18% average decline in April 1 snowpack across 652 monitoring stations, with snow droughts growing 28% longer between 1980 and 2018. These trends increase risks for water supplies, hydropower, and wildfires, with projections suggesting a further 25% decline in snow water equivalent by 2050.

February 2026 was the fifth-warmest month globally on record, with the contiguous U.S. experiencing its second-warmest winter in 132 years. A critical 'snow drought' affected the western U.S., where snow-covered areas in January were only 34% of normal, threatening water supplies for agriculture and energy. Climate Central's analysis indicates that human-driven climate change significantly influenced winter temperatures, particularly in the Southwest, and is the primary cause of spring warming in 98% of 241 examined U.S. cities.

The document explains that rising global temperatures increase 'atmospheric thirst,' where the atmosphere absorbs more moisture from the land. In the western U.S., this heat-driven demand has replaced lack of precipitation as the leading cause of exceptional drought since 2000, contributing to a multi-decade megadrought in the Southwest and increasing wildfire risk in California and Nevada.

The study examined shallow lakes in the Colorado River Basin from 2002 to 2012, identifying a correlation between annual precipitation and the area covered by water. Using satellite imagery, the research categorized years as normal (2011), wet (2004), and dry (2008), finding that the number of detected shallow lakes ranged from 5 in dry years to 20 in wet years, with corresponding water areas between 5.8 km2 and 14.54 km2. Water bodies were further divided into three clusters based on size, salinity, and orientation.

Climate Central analyzed 2,041 U.S. monitoring stations from 1970 to 2023, finding that 64% of locations experienced a decrease in annual snowfall. The report highlights regional disparities, noting that while the western U.S. faces shrinking snowpack and increased snow drought, the Great Lakes region sees a trend toward more lake effect snow due to reduced ice cover, though the overall snow season is projected to shorten. These shifts threaten water security in the West, the winter recreation industry in the Northeast, and aquatic ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains.

The report examines the significant environmental impacts of animal feed, which accounts for 41% of livestock's global greenhouse gas emissions and 98% of its freshwater use. It proposes four key solutions: Responsible Sourcing to end land conversion, Regenerative Agriculture to improve soil health and carbon sequestration, Circular Ingredients to utilize food waste and by-products, and Feeding Innovations to improve efficiency and reduce enteric methane. The document emphasizes that these solutions require a strong enabling environment, including better data transparency, supportive public policy, and strong market signals across the fragmented feed value chain.

The document reports that winter is the fastest warming season for most of the U.S., leading to a general decrease in fall and spring snowfall between 1970 and 2019. It details regional impacts, such as a 15-30% reduction in snow-derived freshwater in the Western U.S. since 1955, a shift toward rain over snow in the Northeast, and a shortened lake effect snow season in the Great Lakes region. These changes threaten water security for agriculture and municipalities, increase wildfire and drought risks, and negatively impact the winter recreation industry.

The report concludes that Olifants River flows will likely decline substantially due to a combination of projected precipitation decreases and increased evaporation driven by rising temperatures. Using IPCC data and the South African Climate Change Reference Atlas, the author finds that warming is virtually certain, while annual precipitation is very likely to decrease by 5% to 25%. Drawing on analogs from the American Southwest, the analysis argues that even modest precipitation increases would be overwhelmed by temperature-induced evaporation. The document warns that these flow reductions will exacerbate existing water quality issues, such as pollutant concentrations and harmful algal blooms, and advises against the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the region.

The analysis concludes that river flows in the Mokolo and Crocodile (West) catchments are very likely to decline due to a combination of projected precipitation decreases and increased evaporation driven by rising temperatures. Using the American Southwest as a semi-arid analog, the author argues that temperature-induced flow declines will occur even if modest precipitation increases happen. The report warns that these systems are already over-allocated and that further warming, potentially reaching 5°C under high-emissions scenarios, will exacerbate water shortages and increase the frequency of 'flash droughts'.

A coalition of environmental groups argues that the BLM should deny rights-of-way for Enefit's oil shale project in Utah, citing severe risks to air and water quality, climate change, and endangered species, while alleging the project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is legally deficient.

Margaret Bowman of the Walton Family Foundation outlines a vision for water resilience in the Colorado River basin to address a projected gap of 3.2 million acre feet between water supply and demand by 2060. The proposed strategy relies on three primary pillars: upgrading agricultural irrigation to save an estimated one million acre feet, implementing urban water efficiency programs to save another one million acre feet, and utilizing wastewater and stormwater recycling to gain 1.2 million acre feet. Bowman advocates for market-based water banking and targeted augmentation over large-scale water import schemes. She emphasizes the interdependence of urban and agricultural sectors and highlights the 2012 international agreement between the United States and Mexico as a model for cooperation, citing a recent pulse flow experiment in the Colorado River delta as an example of ecological and social co-benefits.

The report analyzes the intersection of the U.S. electricity sector, water resources, and climate change, arguing that current power generation is vulnerable to water scarcity and high temperatures. Through modeling of four scenarios—Business as Usual, Renewables-and-Efficiency, CCS-and-Nuclear, and a general Carbon Budget—the authors find that a transition toward renewable energy and energy efficiency can drastically reduce both carbon emissions and water withdrawals and consumption. Conversely, low-carbon options like nuclear power and carbon capture and storage (CCS) remain water-intensive. The report provides a set of "water-smart criteria" for decision-makers to enhance the resilience of the U.S. power grid in a warming world.