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

Las Vegas water

The Las Vegas area has taken several effective steps to conserve water, with more efforts on the way. Brad Hicks of public broadcasting’s This American Land reports.   Length: 2:00 Download script Download full-resolution...
inspectors testa new landscape watering system in Castle Rock

Douglas County Commissioners to head to San Luis Valley for water export meetings

Douglas County Commissioners will travel to Colorado’s San Luis Valley to hear public opinions on exporting farm water to the Front Range.

Photos: Rio Grande near Las Cruces, New Mexico, March 2026

This page in our free multimedia library features drone-captured photos of the Rio Grande, near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Rio Grande begins in the San Juan Mountains and travels some 1,900...

Advocacy and science work together to improve water quality in Coal Creek

Two non-profit groups in Crested Butte work to clean up waters still polluted from the Keystone and Standard mines.
Lake Powell's Glen Canyon Dam photo

New forecast: Lake Powell electricity production to drop, as officials race to boost water...

Electricity produced at Glen Canyon Dam has been cut in half by the 20-year drought.

New Mexico and Rio Grande Journalism Project

This page explains how journalists can apply to The Water Desk for funding to support their coverage of water issues connected to New Mexico and the Rio Grande. We will...

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.

Farms use 80% of the West’s water. Some in Colorado use less, a lot...

A greenhouse in Colorado is using 95 percent less water to grow food compared to traditional agricultural practices.

Blue Mesa is threatened by a two-decade-long drought and downstream obligations

Experts say it will take a lot more than one snowy winter to refill the reservoir. 

California weighs changes for new water rights permits in response to a warmer and...

As California’s seasons become warmer and drier, state officials are pondering whether the water rights permitting system needs revising.