Why the Colorado River is running low on water
科羅拉多河為何水量告急
The Colorado River, the lifeblood of the American West, faces a dire future.
科羅拉多河這條美國西部的命脈，正面臨著嚴峻的未來。
A combination of historical errors, intense human demand, and climate change has pushed the river to its breaking point.
歷史錯誤、龐大的人類需求以及氣候變遷等多種因素相結合，已將這條河流推向崩潰的邊緣。
Agriculture consumes roughly 80% of the river's supply, further straining resources.
農業用水約佔該河總供給量的80%，使本已緊張的水資源更加匱乏。
Rising temperatures have created a 'megadrought,' while warmer springs mean vegetation absorbs more snowmelt, leaving less water to reach the streams.
氣溫升高造成了「特大乾旱」，而溫暖的春季意味著植被會吸收更多的融雪，導致流入溪流的水量減少。
Consequently, major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell have hit record-low levels, threatening water security and local ecosystems.
因此，像米德湖和鮑威爾湖等主要水庫已跌至歷史新低，威脅到了供水安全與當地生態系統。
The era of treating the Colorado River as an endless resource is over; adaptation is now mandatory for the survival of the millions who rely on its flow.
將科羅拉多河視為取之不盡資源的時代已經結束；對於依賴其河流的數百萬人而言，適應現已成為生存的必要條件。
