Despite two rivers flowing through town and a drinking water supply from Grand Mesa, projections from Colorado River Basin Roundtable studies predict significant gaps between water supply and demand by 2050. Studies estimate a 600,000 million-acre-feet shortage by 2050, said Grand Junction Utility and Street System Director Greg Trainor, and a board member of the Mesa County Water Association.

With demographers forecasting 35 percent more people in Colorado by 2035 and climate scientists predicting 15 percent less water available in the Colorado River Basin by mid-century, something has to give. More and more, public officials, business groups and environmental organization have been talking about additional dams and reservoirs to augment those built in the mid-20th century.

At least three major environmental problems are unfolding: the pine beetle plague, rising temperatures and intensifying winter dust storms. Scientists say human activity is at least partially to blame for all three, and each will have an effect on Colorado’s water supply.

Federal agencies have pledged to send nearly $60 million in grants to help California communities, farms and dairies suffering from ongoing water shortages.

The growing shortage of water - a perennial problem in the world's poorer nations - is expected to eventually reach the rich nations in the Western world.