The drying of the Colorado River poses severe risks to agriculture, hydropower, and urban water supplies across the Southwest. Farmers are facing economic hardships, with some leaving fields fallow and others shutting down irrigation systems. Hydropower generation at Lake Powell is at risk due to low water levels, and cities like those in Southern California may face stricter water usage limits. The crisis also threatens ecosystems, with warmer and shrinking streams endangering fish populations and increasing wildfire risks in parched forests. Long-term, the region faces a permanent shift to drier conditions, requiring significant adaptation measures.