A centuries-old system determines who gets water first and last
In response to the ongoing drought, Colorado has offered to pay ranchers to leave their water right in the river when levels sink to critically low levels.
Data viz: Navajo Lake levels
Last update: September 21, 2022
Percent of total capacity
Source: US Bureau of Reclamation
Photos: Gross Reservoir aerials, May 2019
This photo gallery features images shot during a Lighthawk aerial photo flight over Gross Dam and Reservoir, west of Boulder.
Denver Water has proposed raising the dam by 131...
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.
Colorado River farm fallowing pilot moves forward, with approvals slated for next month
Farmers and ranchers in Colorado have submitted proposals to help restore the Colorado River, but the impacts remain uncertain.
State inspections lag for New Mexico’s primary drinking water source
New Mexico is behind in water inspections for the third year in a row, leaving water quality in question.
Shoshone power plant outages concern Glenwood Canyon water users
It has been a rough year for the Shoshone hydropower plant in Glenwood Canyon. First, ice jammed the plant’s spillway; then a wildfire burned down its transmission lines.
Photos: Parker Dam, February 2021
This page features photos of Parker Dam, located along the Colorado River on the Arizona-California border.
Built between 1934 and 1938 by the Bureau of Reclamation, Parker Dam is...
Feds, 4 Colorado River states unveil draft drought operations plan as 2022 forecast shift
The Bureau of Reclamation and the Upper Basin states have drawn up a proposed framework to create plans to maintain Lake Powell water levels.
Photos and videos: Treasure Falls, Colorado, June 2026
This page features photos and videos of Treasure Falls in the San Juan National Forest near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Treasure Falls is an easily accessible waterfall located just off U.S. 160,...