"DENVER—Hispanic leaders in the West have formed a new group called Nuestro Rio to focus attention on the Colorado River, which has sustained generations of Latinos."

"The Colorado River system provides municipal water for more than 30 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Mexico, but climate change, drought, population growth and wildlife needs have heightened competition for the system's limited water supplies.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is studying future gaps in supply and demand for water from the river system through 2060.

As western U.S. cities propose water projects to claim their share of scarce river water, Nuestro Rio, which is Spanish for "Our River," wants to make sure Hispanic voices are heard. "

Catherine Tsai reports for the Associated Press August 17, 2011. [2]