Governance

The process of protecting environmental flows takes an important step forward as three laws passed in 2020 start to take effect this year.

Is Colorado’s most precious resource a public good or a private property right?

The Colorado River is in crisis — one of the worst in recorded history. For the past several months, the seven states that use Colorado River water have been trying to come up with a plan to keep the river from collapsing. California is the single largest user of Colorado River water, which means that any effort to save the river involves California making some serious cuts. 

The Trump administration’s new definition of “waters of the United States” dramatically shrinks federal protection of many wetlands and waterways under the Clean Water Act. The rule change cuts red tape for farmers and developers but could threaten ecosystems and drinking water, especially in the arid West.

Colorado water officials have reached a settlement removing one of the last barriers to a new water program in Chatfield Reservoir.

Urgency to designate the Crystal River in Colorado as Wild & Scenic varies among the river's advocates.

Conservation groups and state regulators are alarmed by proposed changes to nationwide permits that authorize construction across streams and wetlands.

Water leaders from each of the Colorado River basin states will soon meet for the annual Colorado River Water Users Association Conference.

Colorado has a new turf replacement program that will finance residential areas to switch their yards to more water efficient landscaping.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board has decided to hold upcoming workgroup meetings about a potential water-demand management effort in public