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

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As a Colorado aquifer runs low, dangerous heavy metals threaten rural communities’ drinking water

In the San Luis Valley, the ongoing megadrought and a record-low snowpack are draining groundwater and increasing its concentrations of toxic metals. There are few protections for residents drinking from private wells.

California will soon have more than 300 data centers. Where will they get their...

A proposed data center in the Imperial Valley would need 750,000 gallons of water a day. Satisfying the thirst of 24 more facilities expected to open in the state will be challenging, experts and officials say.

Want to predict wildfires? The key may be underground

Recent studies demonstrate how soil moisture data can help wildfire experts predict a potential fire’s location and severity.

‘It’s devastating’: Drawdown at Flaming Gorge hits local recreation economy

As campers with boats flocked to Buckboard Marina at the start of Memorial Day weekend, Tony Valdez was busy issuing refunds and repairing broken boat ramps. One older Green...

As Lake Powell drops, a thriving ecosystem is emerging

“We’re entering beaver land!” Zanna Stutz yelled joyfully. Stepping lightly over slick, wobbly mud and splashing through ankle-deep water, she approached a small dam created by nature’s engineers. A Woodhouse toad...

Hoover Dam approaches a hydropower cliff

Some day in the next 12 months – maybe in late-August, maybe not until next spring – Lake Mead will drop below the critical threshold of 1,035 feet above...

Colorado River faces ‘devastating consequences’ if another dry winter lands, experts warn

Even a huge snowpack during the coming winter would only give the river basin states less than two years of storage before reservoirs returned to historic lows.

Lake Powell is draining away from Bullfrog Marina. Now it has to move

For Dave and Gaye Babcock, Lake Powell is like part of the family.  The couple from Helper, Utah, have been coming for nearly 50 years. They got engaged at the...

Just add water: West Texas wetlands project brings new life to ancient riverbed

EL PASO, Texas — The wild waters of the Rio Grande have not flowed freely through the Rio Bosque wetland since 1943. After being left to run dry for most...

‘It’s a different lake now’: As Lake Powell drops, an iconic marina chases deeper...

Titus Crawford spent four days calling Lake Powell boaters this spring. After a record low snowpack and off-the-charts March heat, the reservoir was on track to dip so low...