I mapped the consumption and losses from the Colorado River [OC] Visualization

What This Visualization Shows

This data visualization displays "I mapped the consumption and losses from the Colorado River [OC]" and provides a clear visual representation of the underlying data patterns and trends. The visualization focuses on This Sankey diagram traces the entire tributary system of the Colorado River Basin, from snowmelt in the Rockies through every major diversion, inter-basin transfer, consumptive use, and evaporative loss before what little remains of the river empties into the Sea of Cortez. Almost 40 million people depend on this river, and with the recent droughts, man-made or natural, there isn't enough water for everyone.

The diagram uses average river flow volumes for the years 2021-2024 and uses the 2026 forecast for diversion sites in the the Lower Colorado Basin.

\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Data sources:**

Built with D3 using the following data from USBR and USGS.

**River flow volumes from National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus)**

**Data**: [https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/get-nhdplus-national-hydrography-dataset-plus-data](https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/get-nhdplus-national-hydrography-dataset-plus-data)

**Diversion sites (Upper Colorado Basin)**

**Title**: Compilation of surface water diversion sites and daily withdrawals in the Upper Colorado River and Little Colorado River Basins

**Site**: [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11582633/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11582633/)

**Data**: [https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6642ad62d34e1955f5a41e4f](https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6642ad62d34e1955f5a41e4f)

**Diversion sites (Lower Colorado Basin)**

**Title**: Lower Colorado River Water Accounting

**Site**: [https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/wtracct.html](https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/wtracct.html)

**Data**: [https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/forecast.pdf](https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/forecast.pdf)

\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A fully **interactive version** of the diagram, as well as multiple types of maps and animated tours is at: [https://smartstacks.net/page-colorado](https://smartstacks.net/page-colorado)

**Demo video**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DotIzhUDsc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DotIzhUDsc), which allows us to understand complex relationships and insights within the data through visual storytelling.

Deep Dive into the Topic

Technology data visualization provides insights into digital trends, user behavior, and system performance that drive innovation and improve user experiences. This field encompasses everything from website analytics and app usage patterns to system performance monitoring and cybersecurity threat visualization.

Digital analytics visualizations help product managers understand user journeys, identify feature adoption patterns, and optimize user interfaces. System performance dashboards enable IT professionals to monitor server health, network traffic, and application response times. Social media and web analytics reveal content engagement patterns, user demographics, and digital marketing effectiveness.

The rapid evolution of technology creates new opportunities for data visualization in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain analytics. These technologies generate vast amounts of data that require innovative visualization approaches to make them understandable and actionable. Technology data visualization not only helps manage complex systems but also enables the development of better products and services through data-driven insights.

Data Analysis and Insights

The patterns revealed in this visualization demonstrate the importance of systematic data analysis in understanding complex phenomena. By examining different data segments, time periods, and categorical breakdowns, we can identify trends that inform strategic planning and decision-making processes.

Statistical analysis of this data reveals variations across different dimensions that provide insights into underlying drivers and relationships. These patterns help identify areas of opportunity, potential risks, and key performance indicators that can guide future actions and resource allocation.

The analytical approach used in this visualization enables comparison across different categories, time periods, or geographic regions, revealing insights that support evidence-based decision-making. This type of analysis is essential for organizations seeking to optimize performance and understand complex market dynamics.

Significance and Applications

This data visualization has important implications for understanding trends and patterns that affect decision-making across multiple sectors. The insights derived from this analysis can inform policy development, business strategy, resource allocation, and operational improvements.

For analysts, researchers, and decision-makers, this type of data visualization provides essential insights for strategic planning and performance optimization. Whether addressing operational challenges, market analysis, or policy development, understanding data patterns helps create more effective strategies and solutions.

The broader significance lies in how this information contributes to our understanding of complex systems and relationships. This knowledge helps predict future trends, identify potential challenges, and develop more informed approaches to problem-solving and opportunity identification.