Water, the most fundamental, life-sustaining element in the natural world, has shaped the American West for millenniums. An overlapping tale of peoples, interactions, management, infrastructure and nature, the ever-changing role of water continues to shape the very fabric of Western existence in the United States. Water played a vital role in Indigenous cultures, impacting the Native Colorado homelands of the Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples. “The land and water were not just the source of their livelihoods — they were also the source of their spiritual values,” said Glenn Patterson, a Colorado State University ecosystem science and sustainability faculty member. “As they knew, water is life, and the American West is defined by scarcity of water.” Read the full article on the Collegian website, linked in our bio. Written by katfish_._ Collegian File Photo #collegianscience #csucollegian #csuscience #rmsmc #rockymountaincollegian #ResearchAndDevelopment #studentmedia #sustainabil...