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

Photos: Animas River aerials, May 2023

This page in our free multimedia library features aerial photos of the Animas River in southwest Colorado. The Animas River begins high in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado,...
Cedar Springs Marina photo

Feds won’t do more emergency water releases to aid Lake Powell after this year

The releases from Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo reservoirs are designed to bolster hydropower production at the ailing Lake Powell.

Dwindling water supply, legal questions push Colorado River into ‘wildly uncharted territory’

Time is ticking for states that share the shrinking Colorado River to negotiate a new set of governing rules. One major sticking point, which has the potential to thrust...

Special Report: As Lake Powell hits record lows, is filling a new drought pool...

Upper Basin states that created their own drought contingency plan still haven’t agreed on the biggest, most controversial element of the plan.

Water Desk supports journalists covering New Mexico and Rio Grande

The Water Desk is excited to announce new grants to support water journalism connected to New Mexico and the Rio Grande Basin.
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.

Photos: North Lake Powell, October 2022

This page features aerial photos of the northern end of Lake Powell in Utah. Lake Powell is the second-largest reservoir in the nation by capacity and began to fill with...
Ella Ditch photo

River District looks for natural solutions to Crystal River water shortage

Officials say a solution to the water shortage on the Crystal River will probably include natural fixes before a dam and reservoir.

Photos: Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation

This page features aerial and ground-based photos of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation near Parker, Arizona. Created by the federal government in 1865, the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT)...

Photos and videos: Paonia Reservoir, December 2020

This page features drone-captured photos and videos of Paonia Reservoir on Colorado's Western Slope. Located 16 miles northeast of Paonia, the reservoir lies along Muddy Creek, upstream from...