The Colorado? Call It the California River
The Golden State’s Power Should Be Used Not to Protect Its Water, But to Solve Western Water Problems
Why do we still call it the Colorado?
Sure, the river begins in the Colorado Rockies. But in law and practice, the waterway making headlines is clearly the California River. And the first provision of any deal to save the river should rename it accordingly.
This condition wouldn’t be about Golden State pride. Instead, a name change would more accurately reflect the imperial role California plays not only in the river controversy, but in the movement of water, people and power in the American West.
Right now, the Grand Canyon-sized divide over how …
