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

Cattle photo

The Southwest monsoon season is changing, forcing ranchers and Indigenous farmers to adapt

Changing storms in the Southwest are altering timeless food traditions as researchers grapple with how to study the monsoon’s erratic nature.

Rio Blanco secures water right for dam-and-reservoir project

A judge has granted a water conservancy district in northwest Colorado a water right for a new dam-and-reservoir project that top state engineers had opposed.
Pistachio farm photo

Tulare County’s never-ending drought brings dried up wells and plenty of misery

In the rural towns around Visalia, drought is a perpetual plight and wells are going dry.

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...

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...

New Rules

As climate change and overuse reduce water supplies, the gap between “paper water” (the legal right to use water) and “actual water” (what’s available) is widening.

Photos: Hite Marina and Lake Powell, October 2022

This page features aerial photos of Hite Marina, the Hite Crossing Bridge, and Lake Powell in southeast Utah. Lake Powell is the second-largest reservoir in the nation by capacity and...
Glen Canyon Dam photo

Recent drop in Lake Powell’s storage shows how much space sediment is taking up

A new study shows that sedimentation from the Colorado River means that Lake Powell's storage capacity is lower than previously believed.

Photos: Rio Grande near Caballo Dam, New Mexico, March 2026

This page in our free multimedia library features drone-captured photos of the Rio Grande, near Caballo Dam in southern New Mexico. The Rio Grande begins in the San Juan Mountains and travels...

Drone videos and photos: Colorado River along Utah State Route 128 near Moab, December...

This page features drone footage and still imagery of the Colorado River near Moab, Utah, along State Route 128, which is designated as a scenic byway. Utah 128 runs...