Colorado River Day

Today is Colorado River Day!  97 years ago, U.S. legislation was passed to rename the river from “Grande” to “Colorado”.  Over 36 million people and 4 million acres of agriculture depend on the river, a powerhouse that has reshaped the land and drives the economy of the west.
Did you know?

• The Colorado River supports $1.4 trillion in annual economic activity and 16 million jobs in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
• That’s equivalent to about 1/12 of the total U.S. domestic product, meaning the Colorado River’s contribution is important to the national economy as well
• For each of these western states, the river accounts for at least half of its gross economic product. The total is much higher for some state economies, including 65% in New Mexico and 87% in Nevada.

So take a moment today to raise a glass of your favorite beverage and toast the mighty Colorado River!