How did it get its name?
European discoverers referred to the present Colorado River as the “Brazos de Dios”, and the present Brazos was referred to as the Colorado River. “Brazos de Dios” meaning “Arms of God” referred to the many tributaries and streams which came together to form the mighty River which provided much water and fertile soil for the region. Most authorities agree that the name Colorado was first given in the late 1600s to the Brazos River. Colorado, which means ‘red’ or ‘reddish’ in Spanish described the water in the Brazos River, which is more often described as reddish due to the clay bottom of the river. As well, there is considerable evidence to support the theory that the names of the two streams were interchanged during the period of Spanish exploration. The present names, however, were well established before the end of Spanish Texas.
Uses
Today, the river has many important uses such as municipal tap water, fire hydrants, supporting manufacturing, cooling systems for power plants, and irrigation for farms. Some of the river’s water is pumped to cities outside of the watershed such as Corpus Christi and Round Rock. With ongoing growth in many parts of the river basin, demand for water is increasing steadily. The most effective long-term solution to ensuring the vitality of the river is to increase awareness about the importance of the river and inspire behavior changes towards river stewardship and water conservation. At the Colorado River Alliance, we are proud that, through water-conservation pledges, our programs help leave over 20 million gallons of water in the river every year!
