Running Dry: The Fight for the West’s Dwindling Water Supply
In a gripping exposé, “Running Dry: The Fight for the West’s Dwindling Water Supply,” the acclaimed program “60 Minutes” sheds light on the dramatic decline of Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, which has reached unprecedented low levels. This critical investigation, originally aired in 2021, follows correspondent Bill Whitaker as he explores the water crisis tied to the Colorado River, a vital resource for millions across the Western United States.
With over 50 seasons of hard-hitting journalism, “60 Minutes” continues to stand as the most successful television broadcast in history, adeptly navigating complex stories that impact daily life. Millions rely on this precious water for drinking, energy production, and agriculture—elements essential to the survival of entire communities. As water scarcity looms, the program discusses the urgent challenges faced by residents, policymakers, and environmentalists alike.
Through insightful interviews and powerful visuals, “Running Dry” paints a stark picture of what’s at stake if immediate action isn’t taken. As the West grapples with this dire situation, “60 Minutes” provides viewers with a comprehensive overview of the implications for the future.
Stay informed by subscribing to the “60 Minutes” YouTube channel, and explore further into this critical topic through their full episodes and exclusive content on CBS News. Together, we can better understand the challenges and potential solutions for one of the most pressing issues facing our nation today.
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“60 Minutes,” the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regularly making Nielsen’s Top 10.
Video “Running Dry: The fight for the West's dwindling water supply | 60 Minutes Archive” was uploaded on 08/13/2026 to Youtube Channel 60 Minutes



































40+ million people living in California, 8 in Arizona, 3.5 in Nevada… the vast majority in the south, which is natural desert… Heres a bright idea, GET OUT, and stop thinking you can beat mother nature. Over time, she'll always win.
U failed to mention most of those crops are shipped over seas
Why not build a pipeline that allows water to be drain in lake mead from flood states make it make sense !!! Government needs to stop being cheap put plans into place
CLIMATE IS A BUNCH OF BS ….Start pumping the Pacific Ocean witch no one wants to do but blame climate.
pipeline from Canada, they have tons of fresh water.. of course it requires an Army Core of Engineers style plan for the pipeline route, construction, pumping stations, management, etc. there is no other real choice, other than desalination plants
I am playing the world’s smallest violin for the Arizona farmer 😂
Until the stop issuing building permits, it’s all theater
Good luck 🍀 People 😂
I loved that at least everyone gets to see on National TV that the folks who run Saint George, UT are absolutely clueless. They’ve been arguing for the Lake Powell Pipeline for decades. They know they won’t get it and they are making disingenuous pushes to the public to move to Utah because “don’t worry, you can buy a house here! We have 5-10 years of water left!” They just recently built an enormous water park, they have golf courses everywhere, and they have some of the highest water usage per capita in the country.
100 X’s worst now 🥺
The real change is from dumb to dumber.
Not to sure about the climate?
People don't need lettuce to live. People need protein and meat. This is insane. Stop growing crops people don't need and focus on the states that produce cattle, chickens, lamb, goats, pigs, and other meat bearing animals. Have you seen how much of this produce we are wasting water on just goes into landfills, even after its purchased? We are so dumb.
calling it climate change is crazy lib talk. Its a human change problem. I have zero sympathy for folks that live in a desert that think this is a climate problem
California needs to build Three 150 MGD Desalination Plants heavily funded by Tech Companies and Major Farming Corporations. It could cost around 20 Billion dollars. Fun fact… The cost to build is only 2% of the Annual Military budget..
Utah is delusional
Seriously? Watering the lawn is listed among the necessary tasks? (At 1:29) Okay, that actually explains a lot!
Clickbait
Build more golf courses in the desert.
Canal system is antiquated, evaporation loss alone would be substantial
Who the hell needs gourds in the middle of the desert?
It's the US. Disregarding natural resources and depleting them is part of the way growth is produced. That is, until it all ends. Will be interesting to see what happens when the farm lands turn to deserts and the towns need to ship in drinking water.
Man I love lake Powell
Let’s have our government pay the farmers to transition away from high water usage
Climate Change is not funny …
Can't we turn off the power generating turbines on these dams? Would that make a difference in water conservation? Surely we have enough power generated by other means like wind and solar.
Since 2000 how many people moved to a desert and expect water? Makes no sense to blame climate
5:20 wonder how much water is lost in cracks throughout the canal
Mother Nature says The lease is over. I'm shutting off the water. Please move out by Monday.
Al Gore told y'all about climate change in 2000. Nobody wanted to listen. There was a 26 year window to correct things since 2000 an the govt didn't do much to offset anything
RIP 60 minutes
and they want data collection ctrs? water lawns?you reap what you sow. no water for you .
Just as expected. "Global warming" propaganda not even 5 minutes in.
Maybe a pipeline from Lake Superior to the source of the Colorado River?
Massive population growth in an area that has never had much water plus dams built on faulty estimates on average precipitation. Cue clown from CU blaming climate change.
Stop building new homes for awhile til water level is caught up stop allowing people to move into areas for awhile..new homes need water too..ya got stop building for awhile
Syntropics/ Agroforestry/ Permaculture/ Regenerative Agriculture works in the desert. Just get people with unused land and whatever equipment to do 20 different farming styles, crops; for very little money relative to the budget. Multiply the one that seems to be working x10. It keeps working. x10 again. It keeps working. x10 again. It keeps working. x10 again. It keeps working. x10 again. Meanwhile, you're x10ing other stuff that is working. Things keep working that work. Things keep not working that don't work. Don't x10 the stuff that doesn't work.
Now there is better water retention, humidity, profit %, the local climate is shifting to something better with more clouds and rain throughout the year, and the water table is rising constantly feeding the rivers.
Job's Done.
This is California’s fault for mismanagement of their resources
Geo engineering !!!!
Here is the solution. Define percentage of water that is available for use for each state and Mexico, rather than set in stone allotments which over allocate. Provide federal money for desalination plants in California and Mexico. Give this water to California and Mexico. This allows upper basin states to use Colorado River water. The upper basin states have no alternative for water use, while California and Mexico can use the ocean for desalination.
I moved out of Phoenix after seeing the insane amount of growth. You could see the writing on the wall with Phoenix population and heat waves getting worse every year. Phoenix will be desolate and property values will plummet with a lack of water.
100 million too many people in the USA. Its so easy to see
Be Afraid be very afraid. So if the brith rate for Americans is at all time low how is the population growing at such high rates how come realist questions dont get asked by so called journalists . Since 2007 brith rate has fell by 23% for Americans
The 'rewind' show is from half a decade ago.
But why are growing Alfalfa that needs soooo much water in the desert?
This is really simple. Those that own the headwaters need to sell it to the cities that need it. Talk about reallocating resources!
Can't think of a time I ever needed or wanted a gourd.
Not a single politician cares unless the word kickbacks are involved.
Only Tesla can solve the water shortage problem by leveraging solar/battery tech which allows massive ocean-based reverse osmosis water factories (like Singapore already has). Then autonomous water tankers (or water pipelines) can transport this cheap water solution to inland cities.