A team of researchers have published a paper that shows irrigation of cattle feed crops is the greatest consumer of river water in the western United States.

The challenge of raising beef and dairy in a desert

Science Notes: Irrigation to feed crops for cattle in western U.S. drops river levels

Humans are using freshwater resources faster than they can be naturally replenished. In the western United States, for example, water extractions from the Colorado River have exceeded total river flow, causing rapid depletion of water storage reservoirs. In addition, as these water sources dry up, species of fish, plants and animals are also adversely impacted. […] Read more