Mark Ragsdale

Ranchers in the U.S. Rockies are hauling water for livestock due to a record-low snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin, exacerbated by human-caused climate change. The drought has forced producers to reduce herds, buy hay, and monitor wildfires while struggling to meet operational costs and sustain family ranching legacies.

Ranchers in the U.S. Rockies face increased challenges due to severe drought and low snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin, forcing them to haul water for livestock. Climate change has exacerbated the situation, with water hauling becoming a daily chore for many producers struggling to maintain operations.

Ranchers in the U.S. Rockies, including Scott Snyder of Mex and Sons Ranch in Colorado, are struggling with severe water shortages due to the worst snowpack on record in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Climate change has increased the likelihood of the drought, forcing ranchers to haul water for livestock, shrink herds, and adapt to prolonged dry conditions. A study led by Adrienne Marshall of the Colorado School of Mines links the crisis to human-caused climate change.