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

Photos: South Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam, May 2021

This page features aerial photos of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam near Page, Arizona. Lake Powell is the second-largest reservoir in the nation by capacity and began to fill...

Photos: Salton Sea aerials, October 2018

This page features aerial imagery of the Salton Sea in Southern California. The Salton Sea is a shallow, highly saline lake bordering southern California’s Imperial County. The lake was created...

Colorado River Econ 101

By Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler From the high country in Rocky Mountain National Park a muddy flush of water rushes downstream, through western Colorado. It turns left, going south...
Environmental release flows into the El Chausse restoration site photo

Water-starved Colorado River Delta gets another shot of life from the river’s flows

Despite water shortages along the drought-stressed Colorado River, experimental flows resumed in Mexico to revive trees and provide habitat.

Photos and videos: Dolores River, September 2020

This page features drone-captured images and videos of the Dolores River in southwest Colorado. The Dolores River begins in the San Juan Mountains and travels about 230 miles to meet...

Small farmers wait for California’s groundwater hammer to fall

Farmers, large and small, are beginning to grapple with what the state’s first major groundwater regulation means for them.

Photos: Colorado River headwaters flight, October 2019

This photo gallery features images shot during a Lighthawk flight to the Colorado River headwaters and surrounding areas. The flight began at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, proceeded...

Are New York billionaires different than Colorado’s? Work group eyes new tools to stop...

Imposing hefty taxes on speculative water sales, requiring that water rights purchased by investors be held for several years before they can be resold, and requiring special state approval of such sales are three ideas that might help Colorado protect its water resources from speculators.

Arizona’s future water shock

Smaller cities. Soaring water prices. Scorched desert towns.
Kremmling rancher and fly-fishing guide Paul Bruchez photo

Kremmling rancher picked to replace Schwartz on state water board

Gov. Polis has appointed Kremmling rancher Paul Bruchez to replace former state Sen. Gail Schwartz on the Colorado Water Conservation Board.