‘Pain and suffering’: What the feds’ Lake Powell proposal means for Utah and other...
This story was originally published by The Salt Lake Tribune on August, 12, 2026.
After years of analysis and stalled negotiations, the federal government last month finally laid out...
In the drought-stricken West, birds of a feather flock to low reservoirs
Gerry Morrell wouldn’t necessarily call himself a birder. But even through the sound of cars and semis speeding past on the nearby interstate, he can pick out the call...
How low can the Colorado River go? A slow float on the 15-mile reach
On a hot and sunny morning in August, a group of nine paddlers pushed their duckies and stand-up paddle boards into the Colorado River at Harky’s boat launch in...
Peaches pay the bills for Western Colorado farmers, but prolonged drought makes their future...
On a warm morning in Palisade, Colorado, Bruce Talbott walks through his orchards, picking and discarding peaches he knows won’t sell. With just one look, he can tell how...
The Supreme Court shrunk clean water protections in the West. Colorado and New Mexico...
In dry, western Colorado, near the town of Glade Park, a high-elevation meadow is surrounded by aspens and firs. The grass is surprisingly bright green. That’s a clue, said...
The clock is ticking for New Mexico to cut Rio Grande water use
Photos by Paul Ratje. Reporting supported by the Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder.
HATCH, N.M.—After 13 years, Texas and New Mexico have finally reached a settlement in...
Colorado water officials announce creation of state-run conservation program
In the culmination of a process that has been years in the making, Colorado officials Wednesday announced the creation of a state-run water conservation program.
In what officials are calling...
A New Mexico town is running dry. An immigration detention center is its biggest...
The town of Estancia and the ICE facility are trucking in water until a new well is drilled.
How universities in the West justify staying green during drought
In early June, water experts gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder to talk about the future of the Colorado River.
The lifeline for 40 million people in the Southwest...
‘It’s devastating’: Drawdown at Flaming Gorge hits local recreation economy
As campers with boats flocked to Buckboard Marina at the start of Memorial Day weekend, Tony Valdez was busy issuing refunds and repairing broken boat ramps. One older Green...