Study confirms water supply in the Colorado Basin continues to dwindle

A new study is confirming what many in the west fear... that water supply in the Colorado River basin will continue to dwindle.

The rising demand and falling supply has water managers projecting that the Colorado River won't be able to meet demands over the next 50 years.

The three year water supply and demand study evaluated the future ability of the river to meet increasing demands.

It also outlined potential strategies for dealing with projected water shortfalls.

The study found the population in the west could double in the coming years, further straining the river basin.

By 2060 the amount being taken out of the river could exceed what's going in by 3.2 million acre-feet per year.

Over 160 options for dealing with imbalance have been reviewed.

Senator Mark Udall says innovative ways need to be explored to better manage the rising demands.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Gimbel, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board says there's no easy answer to the imbalances of the river.