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

Photos: Boulder Creek and Gross Reservoir

This page features photos of Gross Reservoir, Boulder Creek and the creek’s 2013 floods on Colorado’s Front Range. Located in Boulder County, Gross Reservoir was created as a water storage...

As wildfires grow more intense, California water managers are learning to rewrite their emergency...

Agencies share lessons learned as they recover from fires that destroyed facilities, contaminated supplies and devastated their customers

Winter’s alarmingly low snowpack offers a glimpse of the changing rhythm of water in...

As global temperatures rise, the freezing line where precipitation changes from rain to snow moves up the mountains, shrinking the area capable of sustaining a seasonal snowpack.
Boaters float the Yampa River in northwest Colorado photo

Stream management planning watered down by agriculture

Flow targets for the environment and recreation are lacking, according to a recent report.

Post-fire study finds snowpack melts earlier

Loss of forest canopy and deposition of ash alter forest hydrology
Lake Powell photo

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.
Transmission lines march outward from Hoover Dam, delivering the dam's hydroelectric power to cities, irrigation districts, and tribes across the Southwest.

Solar growth cushions Colorado River hydropower declines

Lakes Mead and Powell, the basin’s two largest reservoirs, are approaching critical levels in which hydropower from their dams (Hoover and Glen Canyon, respectively) would be severely curtailed or altogether cease.

Tourist haven Grand Lake asks state to intervene in federal water quality stalemate

Grand County officials are searching for ways to prevent harmful algae blooms and weed growth in Grand Lake.

Photos: Rio Grande Gorge, June 2024

This page in our free multimedia library features photos of the Rio Grande Gorge, near Taos, N.M. The Rio Grande Gorge, a striking canyon of volcanic basalt up to 800...

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...