The Colorado River is over 2,300 km long and drains parts of several western U.S. states and Mexico. It provides water for over 24 million people and extensive agriculture but faces challenges from climate change, overuse, and rising salinity levels. Water management efforts include dams for hydroelectricity and irrigation and a desalination plant, while agreements divide the river's water between the upper and lower basins. Recent strategies aim to share drought risks between the river's large reservoirs and encourage conservation.