Joint US-Mexico effort hope to revitalize Colorado River Delta

The All American Canal, the main water conduit from the Colorado River into the Imperial Dam, Imperial Valley, August 6, 2009.

This week, upstream dams are being opened so that water will once again reach the Colorado River's mouth in Mexico. It's part of a coordinated effort between Mexico and the U.S. and scientists are hoping the release will simulate the spring floods that used to happen in the area.

The Colorado River is a massive waterway that twists through the Western States and into Mexico.

It provides water supply to about 40 million people in seven states. The river has been dammed, diverted and sucked dry to serve farmers and thirsty cities, like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Now, water no longer reaches the delta where the Colorado used to enter the sea in the gulf of California.

But this week, upstream dams are being opened so that water will once again reach the river's mouth in Mexico. It's part of a coordinated effort between Mexico and the U.S. and scientists are hoping the release will simulate the spring floods that used to happen in the area.

For more on the restoration effort, we turn to Dave Wegner, Senior Democratic Staff for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the U.S. House of Representatives.