List of rivers in the US that are drying up

Since the year 1895, the average surface temperature in the US has seen a rise to 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit, where the number was 1.3 degrees earlier. Additionally, a majority of this temperature increase has taken place in the last half a century.

America has been blessed with large rivers, but this rise in the surface temperature is drying up these rivers. Take a look at all the rivers that are drying up due to this change in temperature.

Top 3 Rivers most prone to drying up

The Gila River: 

The Gila River of New Mexico, Arizona is an important river for America. It is a free-flowing river in the US State. What makes this river super important is the fact that it is home to various endangered bird species. Increased effects of climate change are drying up this river. Over the past years, over 40 percent of the corridor of the Gila River was actually in severe drought. In the year 2017, the average annual temperature along the Gila River's corridor reached 69.3 degrees, while it was 65.5 degrees in the year 1967. This proves to be one of the greatest increases.

What makes the situation worse is the decline in precipitation. In the year 1967, the precipitation was measured to be 12.2 inches, while in the year 2017, it declined to only 7.7 inches. The American Rivers' 2019 America's Most Endangered Rivers report ranks the Gila River on top. What makes this river the most prone to drying up are several reasons, such as impacts of climate change, water mismanagement, and more. The report says that the Gila River will stop getting snow-packed by the middle of the century because of the climate crisis. It also says that a diversion project is required in order to mitigate the Gila River's flow level.

The Rio Grande:

The Rio Grande River holds a length of 1,900 miles. The very location of the river is drought-prone, as it runs through Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico. What makes the situation worse is the fact that the average temperature has seen an increase from 63.4 degrees to 66.4 degrees from 1967 to the year 2017. These records as some of the largest alterations of river corridors.

There exists heavy demand and overallocation, which make the situation even worse. 

The Pecos River:

The length of the Pecos River is 926 miles. The river starts in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. It then runs into Texas and gets emptied in the Rio Grande. The river may get dried because of its very location, as it is located in one of the most drought-prone regions of the United States. It is important to note that about one-fifth of the corridor of the Pecos River was actually classified as existing in extreme drought in the year 2017. The temperature along the river's corridor rose to 64.1 degrees in 2017, while it was 62.2 degrees in the year 1967.

Rivers are home to aquatic life, and thus, adverse effects on the rivers lead to hampering the lives of these aquatic beings. As per some New Mexico Department of Game & Fish representatives, a decline in the stream flow and drought years are actually negatively impacting the fish population of the river.