| The Colorado River
 The
Colorado River is about 1,400 miles long. It supplies water to seven states
in the West— Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico,
Utah and Wyoming. It also provides water to some of Mexico. About 25 million
people get their water from the Colorado River.
River creates Lake Mead
The government built Hoover Dam in the
1930s to help control the flow of the river and to create a giant reservoir
to save water. After the dam was built, the Colorado River pooled behind
the dam to create Lake Mead, a giant
reservoir that holds water. We get most of our water in Southern Nevada
from Lake Mead.
| Learn more about
the Colorado River basin by clicking on the "play" button. |
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Water Level
The amount of water in the Colorado River depends on rainfall and snowmelt
in the Rocky Mountains. During years when there is little rain or snow,
water levels in Lake Mead drop. To make sure that there will always be enough
water, we must use water wisely.
There are many ways to save water around your house.
One way to save water is to shut off the faucet when you brush your teeth.
That could save about five gallons each time. If you want to know other
ways to save, check out some fast facts.
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