It is a tantalizing question facing the future of the American West: What would happen if the Colorado River dried up? The scenario, though unlikely anytime soon, is a stark way to consider the growing effects of climate change and drought on the region. And when researchers at Arizona State looked into it this year, they found a story of economic disaster. The seven states that rely on the Colorado for at least some of their water supply — from Wyoming down to Southern California — would lose 16 million jobs, many in health care, high technology and arts and recreation. The fewest job losses would come in agriculture. Nonetheless, in the West, it’s agriculture that still gets the lion’s share of the water. That’s the great tension for Western states — and the U.S. economy — as global temperatures rise and drought intensifies in coming years. This region […]