An initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder

Site Features

Colorado activates municipal drought response plan as 2021 water forecast darkens

The State of Colorado has activated the municipal portion of its emergency drought plan for only the second time in history as several cities say they need to prepare for what is almost certainly going to be a dangerously dry 2021.

Gunnison River, with elevated selenium levels, faces review for reclassification

State water-quality officials will soon evaluate whether two water-improvement programs in the Gunnison River basin have successfully reduced a chemical that is toxic to endangered fish.

Glenwood Springs gets $8 million loan for water-system upgrades following Grizzly Creek Fire

Glenwood Springs received approval for a loan of up to $8 million from the state to upgrade its water system to deal with the impacts from the Grizzly Creek Fire.

Aerial video: Colorado River and Green River in Utah, October 2020

This page features video footage shot with a mounted GoPro camera during a Lighthawk flight above the Green River, Colorado River and their confluence in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. The...

Program expanding to map Colorado mountain snowpack

Front Range water providers hope to expand a program that uses a new technology they say will revolutionize water management in Colorado.

Well water throughout California contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’

These chemicals are everywhere. They last forever. They’re expensive to get rid of. And many Californians don’t even know they’re drinking them.
water drop wikipedia

What happens when a rural area’s only well is contaminated?

As California’s new requirements for forever chemicals kick in, small providers in remote towns struggle to clean up their water.

Colorado mitigation “bank” to offset wetland damage, meet Clean Water Act rules

A developer who disrupts wetlands or streams can offset that impact by buying credits generated from floodplain and ecosystem restoration.
Madeline Ryder planting mesquite in an in-ground rainwater harvesting basin in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. Source: Watershed Management Group

Millions of Americans lack access to running water. An ancient method of capturing rainwater...

Advocates say rainwater harvesting is a key component to improving water access and countering climate change

Will water unite us?

Water enjoys support that crosses political parties. Will it be a source of bipartisan collaboration in a time of divided politics?