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

The Colorado River Is Dying. Can Its Aquatic Dinosaurs Be Saved?

The razorback sucker has survived in the river for more than 3 million years. Climate change could end that.

Colorado, USDA double down on soil, water conservation with $5M program

A five-year, $5 million agreement will help support regenerative agriculture, soil health, water conservation and urban farms.

Photos and videos: Paonia Reservoir, December 2020

This page features drone-captured photos and videos of Paonia Reservoir on Colorado's Western Slope. Located 16 miles northeast of Paonia, the reservoir lies along Muddy Creek, upstream from...
The South Adams County Water and Sanitation district photo

Colorado health officials investigating contaminated PFAS plume near Denver fire training center

The Colorado health department is investigating a plume causing high levels of forever chemicals in the raw water supply of Adams County.

Colorado official says demand management program holds water

At the heart of a potential program is a reduction in water use in an attempt to send up to 500,000 acre-feet downstream to Lake Powell to bolster thereservoir and meet 1922 Colorado River Compact obligations.

West Slope water officials sound alarm on climate change, shrinking water supplies

Colorado West Slope water officials turned up the volume on the call for action around water and climate change, calling it a “train wreck.”
Salton Sea

California’s vanishing lake

Water conservation in California’s southern desert is causing an environmental disaster as the Salton Sea quickly shrinks. Lindsay Fendt reports. https://vimeo.com/400802260 Length: 2:04 Download script Download full resolution video
Burnt Northern Water land photo

Suburban Marshall Fire stuns Colorado as statewide wildfire protection efforts ramp up

Climate change and the decades-long drought are fueling bigger and more dangerous fires, leaving devastation up and down watersheds.

Crystal River Ranch near Carbondale seeks to preserve water rights tied to potential dams,...

Are junior water rights to an oversubscribed river enough to justify two reservoirs on a farm? One Colorado rancher is about to find out.

Deadline passed

The seven states failed to meet a federal deadline of February 1st to agree on a plan to use less water from the Colorado River. Brad Hicks of the...