State officials draft bill on stream restoration
Colorado officials have drafted a bill aimed at addressing a tension between stream restoration projects and water rights holders.
Tribal water talks
With growing water shortages on the Colorado River, tribal communities are demanding a bigger role in river management and access to water they legally own but have never actually...
Working within Colorado River’s 1922 water compact for 21st century focus of annual meeting
Water leaders from each of the Colorado River basin states will soon meet for the annual Colorado River Water Users Association Conference.
Cooling the river
As climate change brings warmer weather, Westerners are looking for ways to protect the region's rivers and streams. In a special report for The Water Desk, Jerd Smith of...
Stream management planning watered down by agriculture
Flow targets for the environment and recreation are lacking, according to a recent report.
National, local water and fire officials plan new West Slope summit
Colorado water and fire officials plan a two-day confab in Grand Junction to discuss how to protect the state’s vital mountain watersheds.
Special Report: Inside the toxic link between Colorado’s wildfires and its water
Megafires triggered by drought and climate change have ravaged major Colorado water systems, and recent snowmelt will only make things worse.
Videos and photos: Yampa River, December 2019
This page features drone footage and still imagery of the Yampa River near Stagecoach Reservoir and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
View this gallery for high-resolution downloads »
DateDecember 22-23,...
Melting away in a hot drought
The snowpack that 40 million people rely on for water was supposed to provide a bounty this year. Instead, much of it melted away fast and early — part of a long-term trend associated with climate change.
Upper Colorado River states add muscle as decisions loom on the shrinking river’s future
Upper basin states seek added leverage to protect their river shares amid difficult talks with California and the lower basin











