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

Apache water

As the Colorado River is impacted by climate change and drought, Native American tribes are helping to find solutions. For The Water Desk, Gary Strieker reports on the Jicarilla...
Ruedi Reservoir on the Fryingpan River photo

Ruedi Reservoir at lowest level in two decades

Ruedi Reservoir on Colorado's Fryingpan River is 54% full and at its lowest level in 19 years.

Photos: Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge and Parker Strip

This page feature drone-captured imagery and ground-based photos of Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge and Parker Strip, both located along the Colorado River and the Arizona-California border. The Bill...
The main boat ramp at Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell photo

Lake Powell to dip below target elevation

Despite emergency releases from upper basin reservoirs to prop up Lake Powell, levels are still projected to dip below a critical threshold.

Photos: Morrow Point Dam, December 2020

This page features photos of Morrow Point Dam and the Gunnison River on Colorado's Western Slope. Constructed from 1963 to 1968, Morrow Point is 469 feet tall and was the...
Greeley No. 2 Canal photo

Special Report: Climate change is sapping Colorado’s water supplies. Can its hallmark water law...

Is prior appropriation up to the task of divvying up the state’s water in an era of increasingly frequent and severe drought conditions?
The Colorado River flows towards Horsethief Canyon photo

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

The drought pool would be filled voluntarily, largely by farmers and ranchers, who would be paid to temporarily dry up their fields.

Survey results: How Washington County residents feel about the Lake Powell Pipeline

A majority of survey respondents said they support the project but don’t want to pay for it and would conserve more water in order to avoid it.

As the Colorado River shrinks, can the basin find an equitable solution in sharing...

Drought and climate change are raising concerns that a century-old compact that divided the river’s waters could force unwelcome cuts in use for the upper watershed.

Data viz: Elephant Butte Reservoir levels

Last update: September 21, 2022 Percent of total capacity Source: US Bureau of Reclamation