A study by Princeton University has revealed that plants around the Colorado River are turning to groundwater when it becomes too hot and dry, reducing flow into the already strained basin. The findings could have implications for water management in regions that rely heavily on snowmelt for their water, such as Arizona and California. The researchers found that plants were using groundwater reserves when soil moisture was low, reducing the need for hot, dry conditions. This shift is part of a "drought paradox" where plants maintain or increase transpiration during dry periods. The study also found that increased evapotranspiration brought on by higher temperatures is contributing to reduced river flows. Over the past seven years, water flow in the basin has dropped by 35%.