• The Colorado River provides fresh water to the much of the western United States.Nancy Nehring/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  The grand Colorado River provides fresh water to states as far north as Utah and Wyoming and as far south as Arizona and New Mexico. The areas it serves, the upper and lower basins, use the water in a variety of ways, such as irrigation, domestic use and even for recreation, as the river provides fun outdoor activities.
  
  

Domestic

• Residents of seven states benefit at home from water originating in the Colorado River. These states, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and (southern) California, use over seven million acre-feet of water each year. Million acre-feet is the measurement used by these states to measure the volume flow rate of the water. Residents use the water for their showers, meals, hydration and lawns. Many residents also receiver their electricity from power generated by dams along the river such as Hoover Dam.
  
  

Industrial

• Along with residents, thousands of companies both industrial and farming rely on water from the Colorado River. Farms use the water for crops, hydrating live stock and cleaning. Industrial facilities and other companies use the water to aid production, clean their facilities, hydrate their employees and power their buildings with help from the hydroelectric power generated by the dams. The dams also help prevent flooding, which in turn keeps farms in business.
  
  

Recreation

• The Colorado River features a wide variety of outdoor water activities such as boating, canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting. Visitors from as far north as Utah and as far south as Arizona have the opportunity to find companies in their area that offer these activities. Visitors with their own kayak or canoe have the opportunity to enjoy the river, although some states such as Colorado require visitors to the river to obtain a boating license. The river also provides ample fishing opportunities, however, each state requires a fishing license to fish in the river. The dams along the river also create small lakes that offer activities such as swimming and boating.