The Colorado River, once a symbol of the American West's wild beauty, is in crisis. In Utah's Moab region, tourism has declined since Donald Trump's return to office.

The current White House administration's rhetoric and border policies are deterring visitors and national park funding is being slashed. With fewer rangers, infrastructure and conservation are suffering. Adventure tourism offers some relief but also fuels conflicts over environmental damage from off-roaders. Meanwhile, the federal government is seeking to exploit Utah's rich deposits of lithium, rare earths, oil, and gas — even in protected areas.

Activists warn that industrialization could permanently scar the landscape. Moab has become a microcosm of America's broader struggle between economic gain and environmental preservation, with the Colorado River at the heart of this tension.

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