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

Proposition DD map

It was a squeaker, but Colorado voters say yes to sports betting, cash for...

Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition DD and created a new sports-betting tax whose proceeds will help fund water projects across the state.

Videos and photos: Green Mountain Reservoir and Colorado/Blue confluence drone flight, October 2019

View this gallery for high-resolution downloads » This page features drone-captured imagery of Green Mountain Reservoir and the confluence of the Colorado River and Blue River, near...

Photos and videos: Westwater, Utah, September 2022

This page features drone-captured photos and video of Westwater, a small Navajo community next to Blanding, Utah, that recently got electricity and is still waiting for running water. Water...

Anti-speculation working group digs in, as concern over profiteering continues

An 18-member work group charged with exploring ways to strengthen Colorado’s anti-speculation water laws is getting down to business.

A Colorado River Veteran Takes on the Top Water & Science Post at Interior...

Tanya Trujillo brings two decades of experience on Colorado River issues as she takes on the challenges of a river basin stressed by climate change.
Colorado lawmakers have approved a bill to help regions comply with obligations to deliver water to Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and New Mexico.

Bill providing millions in relief to Republican, Rio Grande river basins clears first hurdle

Colorado lawmakers have approved a bill to help regions comply with obligations to deliver water to Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and New Mexico.

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.
A view of the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell photo

As Lake Powell dries up, the US turns to creative accounting for a short-term...

A new agreement calls for Western states to leave their drinking water in the reservoir — and act as if they didn't.
Ute Water Assistant Manager Greg Williams shows a map where the domestic water provider plans to build Buzzard Creek Reservoir and Owens Creek Reservoir. Cities, conservancy districts, energy companies and private citizens have conditional water rights to build 99 new reservoirs over 5,000 acre-feet on the Western Slope. Photo by William Woody

Colorado has big dreams to use more water from the Colorado River. But will...

The site where Ute Water plans to build Owens Creek Reservoir at 8,200 feet on the Grand Mesa was snow covered by mid-November. The Western Slope’s largest domestic water...
South Platte River

Aurora inks $43.7 million in water deals on South Platte River

Thirsty Front Range Colorado cities continue to drive the market for South Platte River farm water with Aurora announcing two major deals to acquire farms and their water rights.