Kai Risdahl

One of the clearest manifestations of that is that the Colorado River is drying up.

One of the clearest manifestations of that is that the Colorado River is drying up.

So across parts of this country, cities, farms and tribes are of necessity cutting back on how much water they use.

So across parts of this country, cities, farms and tribes are of necessity cutting back on how much water they use.

Doing that, though, gets expensive.

Doing that, though, gets expensive.

But as Alex Hager from KJZZ in Phoenix reports, there is some new money helping to pay for that conservation.

But as Alex Hager from KJZZ in Phoenix reports, there is some new money helping to pay for that conservation.

It's a cool morning in the desert and water is rushing through a canal next to a field of crops.

It's a cool morning in the desert and water is rushing through a canal next to a field of crops.

This water is used by the Gila River Indian community, south of Phoenix.

This water is used by the Gila River Indian community, south of Phoenix.

David DeYoung manages irrigation here, and he's watching the water spill out onto a field of alfalfa through a system of high-tech motorized gates.

David DeYoung manages irrigation here, and he's watching the water spill out onto a field of alfalfa through a system of high-tech motorized gates.

So as the water advances, that sensor is picking up where the water is at.

So as the water advances, that sensor is picking up where the water is at.

DeYoung says they used to run water across this field for 8 to 12 hours to get it fully soaked.

DeYoung says they used to run water across this field for 8 to 12 hours to get it fully soaked.

But with the new tech, it only takes about one.

But with the new tech, it only takes about one.