The Colorado River system that Las Vegas relies on for life is nearer to collapse than ever, a group of six researchers warned in a new report. Running through ‘savings’ accountThe less-than-fruitful, closed-door negotiations to update the 2007 operating guidelines of the Colorado River have dominated headlines about the river for a few years now. At the time, experts told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that any action the feds may take would be open to legal challenges. The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s wastewater infrastructure allows almost every drop of water used indoors to be captured for return to Lake Mead. That water turns into return-flow credits, or the ability to draw more water from the reservoir than is allowed under the Colorado River Compact of 1922.