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

Dropping reservoirs create ‘green light’ for sustainability on Colorado River

Dropping reservoir levels have opened a window of opportunity for water-management policies that move the river system toward sustainability.
Glen Canyon Dam photo

As Colorado River reservoirs shrink, feds ask for work-arounds for 2022

As drought threatens Colorado River reservoirs' ability to generate hydropower, the Bureau of Reclamation is creating work-arounds.

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

Colorado’s “first-in-time, first-in-right” prior appropriation doctrine is coming under increasing scrutiny as rivers and reservoirs dry out.
Burnt Northern Water land photo

Suburban Marshall Fire stuns Colorado as statewide wildfire protection efforts ramp up

Climate change and the decades-long drought are fueling bigger and more dangerous fires, leaving devastation up and down watersheds.

Map: Rio Grande drought tracker

This map depicts data from the National Drought Mitigation Center. Drought intensity categories are based on numerous indicators and local reports from more than 350 expert observers around the...

Map: New Mexico drought tracker

This map depicts data from the National Drought Mitigation Center. Drought intensity categories are based on numerous indicators and local reports from more than 350 expert observers around the...

As winter wildfires burn, will they forever alter Colorado’s forests, water?

Fires in the West burn so intensely that they reshape forests, shift tree species and turn calm waterways into devastating mudflows.

Scarcity the theme of Colorado River conference

Water scarcity underscored this year’s Colorado River Water Users Association conference.

In Vegas, experts eye declining Colorado River flows, electricity woes and federal budget impacts

Millions of dollars are being lost as Lake Powell’s drought-strapped hydropower system fails to produce enough electricity.
Integrated Water Resources Plan land photo

Aspen officials release plan laying out 50 years of water projects

Aspen’s new water resource plan outlines the strategy for creating emergency storage to address threats to existing supplies.