The Sad Future of the American South-West?

Kim Heacox paints a pretty depressing environmental picture. He starts with the drought currently afflicting the American South-West (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/16/american-south-west-drought-water). Heacox notes that the current drought in the US SW, is the worst for 1,200 years. It seems likely that the earlier worst drought did for the Anasazi culture, living in that region. Heacox notes it has long been recognised, by some folk, that the US SW is a 'fragile and marginal environment for agriculture'. Early (ignored) advice was not to populate the region too heavily. The Colorado river currently supplies water for 40 million people in the US SW. Much of that water comes from Lakes Mead and Powell, created by damming the river. These two lakes are currently at 30% of their maximum capacity. There is less snow on the Rockies to fuel the river. Heacox points out that, with climate change, the US SW is going to get even hotter (temperatures of 130 degrees Fahrenheit are predicted for Phoenix) and drier. As the region gets more arid, it is going to get less viable. Praying for rain (as requested by Utah's governor) seems a touch futile.