Could floating solar panels on a reservoir help the Colorado River?

Discover something unusual near your area? The Gila River Indian Reservation installed solar panels along Interstate 10 to protect a nearby canal's water source from heat and wind. These sleek snake-shaped panels began supplying power in November for their community, marking the U.S.'s first such project, while researchers monitor their impact on local water resources. Meanwhile, GRIC is rolling out another initiative—floating solar panels on a reservoir—to eventually power all irrigation and operations. However, these efforts come amid a severe drought affecting the Colorado River, which provides water to millions across seven Western states, Mexico, and 30 tribes, including GRIC.