Issues

The Water Desk is a new independent journalism initiative. We're starting up at a pivotal moment for both the news industry and water sector.

Once criticized for being a profligate user of water, fast-growing Phoenix has taken some major steps — including banking water in underground reservoirs, slashing per-capita use, and recycling wastewater — in anticipation of the day when the flow from the Colorado River ends.

Water utilities initiated emergency action plans, asking hundreds of employees to work from home to limit the virus’ spread and to help protect the workers needed to operate water treatment and delivery systems.

This photo gallery features images shot during a road trip along the Colorado River and two of its tributaries in Colorado: the Blue River and White River....

For more than 4½ years, state engineers in Colorado have expressed concerns that a conservancy district has not proven there is a need for the water, which would be stored in the proposed White River reservoir and dam project.

While snowpack and reservoirs are strong, forecasts for streamflows, which build as melting snow reaches streams, are expected to be below normal across southwestern and southeastern parts of the state.

A monitoring program is trying to ensure that Aspen Skiing Co.’s increased water use for snowmaking won’t harm area creeks.

Farm water is critical to Colorado’s effort to balance a growing population with a water system stressed by drought and climate change.

A new thawing technology aims to help restaurants cut their water use, reduce their operating costs and shrink their carbon footprint.

The cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs are increasing their efforts to develop a reservoir on lower Homestake Creek in the Eagle River Basin.