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As Shrinking Colorado River Imperils California Agriculture, Data Centers Seek More Water
Imperial Valley’s only water source continues to decline due to overuse, drought and climate change, leaving industries and residents grappling with the implications.
Imperial Valley, a desert region located in the southeast corner of California, has one water source: the Colorado River. Large amounts of river water have allowed the area to become an agricultural powerhouse, producing two-thirds of the vegetables Americans eat in the winter. But over the past century, the river’s water supply has fallen nearly a third due to overuse, prolonged drought and climate change.
That continued decline has farmers worried about the future of their industry in the region. At the same time, AI data centers, lithium extraction and geothermal energy projects are set to increase their water use in the area.
On the border with Arizona, the Indigenous Quechan tribe is also grappling with a drying river, which threatens to upend their farm-based economy and undermine their cultural identity.
Copyright Capital & Main 2026
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