Can desalinization plants solve the west’s water problem? | The Excerpt

After more than a century of use powering 7 state economies, the Colorado River is running out of water.

On the Wednesday, March 18, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: A critically important source of water for seven western states, the Colorado River is now running out of water. What's the solution? USA TODAY National Reporter Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to break down the issues and what's at stake.

Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

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Dana Taylor:

Antelope Point Marina once sat near the shore of Lake Powell, the nation's second-largest reservoir. Instead, the sparkling Colorado River now sits more than 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated on top of the water. A critically important source of water for seven Western states, the Colorado River is running out of water. The solution, a public lands access group has proposed an ambitious plan to build eight massive desalination plants off the California coastline, turning ocean water into freshwater for farming and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. Will it work?