In Western Colorado, towns and farms are banding together to pay a hundred million dollars for water they don't intend to use. Today on the show, how scarcity, climate change and a first-dibs system of water management is forcing towns, farms and rural residents to get spendy. Related episodes: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1183606778/a-watershed-moment-in-the-west">A watershed moment in the West?</a> (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indicator-from-planet-money/id1320118593?i=1000617903283">Apple</a> / <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5g0CYL3IL1nRIPV4tiMwTG?si=qQQIZHgzR2WE6VuA1NkOhQ">Spotify</a>) <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/18/1118291012/the-amazon-the-colorado-river-and-a-price-on-nature">The Amazon, the Colorado River and a price on nature</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/30/1032609785/water-in-the-west-bankrupt">Water in the West: Bankrupt?</a> For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/">plus.npr.org</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/">Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money">Newsletter</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Hazard maps: The curse of knowledge

A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.