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

This photo from December 2021 shows one of the intake towers at Hoover Dam. Federal officials said basin states must conserve 2 to 4 million acre-feet to protect reservoir levels in 2023. CREDIT: HEATHER SACKETT/ASPEN JOURNALISM

Race is on for Colorado River basin states to conserve before feds take action

Seven states in the West have been given until August 15th to implement new strategies and tools to conserve the Colorado River.

How much runoff comes from the West’s snowpack?

Snowmelt dominates many Western rivers, but climate change will reduce that contribution as raindrops replace snowflakes.

Photos: Colorado snow drought 2025-2026

This page in our free multimedia library features photos of the low snowpack in Colorado's Rocky Mountains during the 2025-2026 snow drought. This collection includes imagery from Colorado ski areas...

A New Mexico town is running dry. An immigration detention center is its biggest...

The town of Estancia and the ICE facility are trucking in water until a new well is drilled.

Feds call for more water recycling, conservation as Colorado River deteriorates

Water recycling, conservation programs and repair of leaky reservoirs and pipelines will help restore the Colorado River, according to federal officials.

Photos: All-American Canal, February 2021

This page features aerial photos of the All-American Canal near Winterhaven, California. The All-American Canal begins at the Imperial Dam in southeastern California and flows west—nearly parallel to the California-Mexico...
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Video story: When in drought, call the beavers

Beaver reintroduction and restoration can help with some of the West's most profound water problems, both in terms of quantity and quality. A trial program is underway at Caribou Ranch in Boulder County.

Gunnison River water agencies win $340,000 in federal drought grants, launch contingency planning

The Bureau of Reclamation gives funding through its WaterSMART program to five Western states to help combat drought and infrastructure issues.

Calls grow for statewide water conservation standards; some cities skeptical

With a warming climate continuing to rob streams and rivers of their flows, talk in Colorado has resumed about how to limit growing water demand for residential use.

Praying for rain

The Zuni tribe's homeland is one of the most parched sections of the country. The tribe has already declared three drought emergencies in the last 15 years. Will it survive the next one?