Agriculture is limited in the desert states but numerous hay fields, cotton and vegetable farms along the Colorado River near Parker, Arizona, and alfalfa and row crops in southwest of Reno, Nevada are located in areas estimated to pose high risk of fish habitat degradation. The agricultural areas of the desert states continue to demand more water from an over-allocated regional water supply. Farms dependent on irrigation and ever growing urban populations use increasing amounts of water diverted from streams and rivers, leaving less water for fish and other aquatic life and impairing connectivity of their habitats. Fragile and unique spring systems are drying up due to development of groundwater, as well as through physical alterations [...]
