Why is there disputers over who has rights to use the water from the Colorado RIver?

Answer 1

Because many of the claims overlap, so it's not always clear who has priority during times of water shortages.

In Colorado, senior (older) claims usually have priority over later claims. If a senior user is downstream and isn't using all the water he is entitled to, upstream users can't use it because it doesn't belong to them. Also, during drought periods, junior rights owners may be ordered to shut down their irrigation systems, even if they desperately need the water to keep their crops from dying and the senior users aren't using all of their allotment.

Answer 2

Because if the person downstream is using the water, and the person upstream is channeling off to much, the person downstream won't have enough to do his business. And thats how water wars started in the american past.

Answer 3

water rights are a very complicated issue. say you had a farm that depended on the river to water your crops and I built a dam upstream to cut off your water, effectively driving you out of business. It would be very damaging to you and your livelihood. I realize that this is a very simplistic answer but should give you the gist of the issue.