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

As water prices soar, Colorado lawmakers consider rules to stop profiteering

Colorado's legislature has authorized a study of the state's anti-speculation laws

Study: Colorado’s water still affordable, but that may change as COVID-19 stresses utilities

Western states are still able to provide relatively affordable water, but that could change as utilities try to recoup losses associated with the pandemic and begin to pay for the massive repairs and upgrades to their systems that were on the drawing board before COVID-19 struck.

Polis signs five major water bills into law: instream flows, anti-speculating, and more

Colorado enacted five major pieces of water legislation, including providing more water for environmental flows and studying how to limit water speculation.

Amid a withering drought, New Mexico leaders struggle to plan for life with less...

New Mexico faces tough choices as a dire and historic drought continues and the Rio Grande is unable to give everyone what they want or need.

Grizzly Reservoir to be drained next summer for rehab work

The rehabilitation of Grizzly Dam addresses safety concerns of corroded steel, seepage and operational problems.
Morrisania Mesa Ditch photo

Popular ditch inventories remain private despite being publicly funded

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

Some Western cities offer residents “cash for grass” to reduce irrigation

A study in 2016 showed that lawns are the largest irrigated crop in America.

Western Colorado water purchases stir up worries about the future of farming

Part of a series by Aspen Journalism, KUNC, KJZZ and The Nevada Independent exploring how investors are banking on the West’s water scarcity.

Arizona’s future water shock

Smaller cities. Soaring water prices. Scorched desert towns.

Colorado River farm fallowing pilot moves forward, with approvals slated for next month

Farmers and ranchers in Colorado have submitted proposals to help restore the Colorado River, but the impacts remain uncertain.