A new study urges water conservation and reuse to protect Arizona and six other western states from drought. Matt Rice with the nonprofit organization American Rivers said his group has come up with a series of solutions for the over-taxed Colorado River.

“We’re walking on the edge, we’re on the verge of a potential crisis,” Rice said. “Applying these measures, implementing these solutions across the board would avert that crisis.”

Rice said his group’s plan would save 3.8 million acre feet of water, which is the projected long-term water deficit if the current drought continues. It’s projected to conserve and reuse enough water to maintain human life, wildlife, agriculture and outdoor recreation through an extended period of drought.