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

Site Features

Water Connections

Where groundwater gives way to warm springs, a fight continues over building a new desert town outside Las Vegas.

New Rules

As climate change and overuse reduce water supplies, the gap between “paper water” (the legal right to use water) and “actual water” (what’s available) is widening.

Cutting Back

In Diamond Valley, Nevada, farmers are looking to protect their future — and testing the limits of the state’s water laws.

As pandemic hammers its finances, Vail pulls out of state cloud seeding program

Vail Resorts Inc., one of the largest financial contributors to Colorado’s cloud seeding program, has dropped out this year, leaving a major hole in the program’s budget.

Vail Resorts’ cancellation of cloud seeding this winter could mean less water in streams

Due to budget shortfalls, Vail Resorts has pulled this winter’s funding for its cloud seeding program, potentially reducing the amount of water flowing down the Colorado River this spring.

The promises and pitfalls of mapping small streams

After nearly 136 years of work, the U.S. Geological Survey still faces problems mapping small streams. Now hikers and lasers are on the solutions menu.

Testing sewage can give school districts, campuses and businesses a heads-up on the spread...

Studies have shown that testing wastewater offers an early warning signal about the prevalance of the coronavirus in the community.

A Colorado River leader who brokered key pacts to aid West’s vital water artery...

Terry Fulp, Regional Reclamation Director, urges continued collaboration and cooperation to meet the river's tough water management challenges ahead

Map: Explore drone, aerial and terrestrial imagery from The Water Desk

Use this interactive map to browse our expanding collection of free-to-use photos and videos captured by drones, planes and ground-based photographers.

Using drone and aerial imagery – Water Buffs Podcast ep. 6 – Mitch Tobin

Journalist Geoff McGhee talks to Water Desk Director Mitch Tobin about how still images and video footage captured by planes and drone help explain water issues.