Years of Colorado River talks failed to produce a deal. How much should the...
Two thick, orange, bound books sit on a library table at Colorado State University.
“This is the original compilation,” said Patty Rettig, a water resources...
If Colorado River compact heads to Supreme Court, ‘everybody loses,’ experts say
The drama engulfing the seven states in the Colorado River Basin could take another, more perilous turn in a few weeks.
Water experts are warning...
The Colorado River got so low, rafting companies canceled this popular trip for the...
Most river rafting operators dabble in soothsaying. Every day, sometimes every hour, they closely study river flows and try to predict what kind of...
‘Pain and suffering’: What the feds’ Lake Powell proposal means for Utah and other...
This story was originally published by The Salt Lake Tribune on August, 12, 2026.
After years of analysis and stalled negotiations, the federal government...
How low can the Colorado River go? A slow float on the 15-mile reach
On a hot and sunny morning in August, a group of nine paddlers pushed their duckies and stand-up paddle boards into the Colorado River...
Peaches pay the bills for Western Colorado farmers, but prolonged drought makes their future...
On a warm morning in Palisade, Colorado, Bruce Talbott walks through his orchards, picking and discarding peaches he knows won’t sell. With just one...
The clock is ticking for New Mexico to cut Rio Grande water use
Photos by Paul Ratje. Reporting supported by the Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder.
HATCH, N.M.—After 13 years, Texas and New Mexico have...
Colorado water officials announce creation of state-run conservation program
In the culmination of a process that has been years in the making, Colorado officials Wednesday announced the creation of a state-run water conservation...
How universities in the West justify staying green during drought
In early June, water experts gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder to talk about the future of the Colorado River.
The lifeline for 40...
As Lake Powell drops, a thriving ecosystem is emerging
“We’re entering beaver land!” Zanna Stutz yelled joyfully.
Stepping lightly over slick, wobbly mud and splashing through ankle-deep water, she approached a small dam created...