Crisis on the Colorado Part I: The West’s Great River Hits Its Limits– Will...
As the Southwest faces rapid growth and unrelenting drought, the Colorado River is in crisis, with too many demands on its diminishing flow. Now those who depend on the river must confront the hard reality that their supply of Colorado water may be cut off.
Deadline passed
The seven states failed to meet a federal deadline of February 1st to agree on a plan to use less water from the Colorado River.
Brad Hicks of the...
Steamboat looks to new program to address high river temperatures
Steamboat Springs is trying to comply with state regulations and also cool down chronically high temperatures in an impaired stretch of the Yampa River.
Wyoming’s crowded Lonesome Lake tops EPA’s national survey for fecal contamination
LONESOME LAKE, WYOMING—Whit Coleman belly flopped with style into some of Wyoming’s most famous alpine waters on a summer day.
Out on a father-son backpacking trip with friends, the Salt...
Western governors ask feds to expand state partnerships to address wildfires, climate change
Western governors say it's time to help states recover from wildfires, thin overgrown forests and protect mountain water systems.
Holding out hope on the drying Rio Grande
Reporting supported with a grant from The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder's Center for Environmental Journalism. Aerial photography support provided by LightHawk.
FAR WEST TEXAS—The year was...
Water conservation payments to Colorado ranchers could top $120M; is it enough?
A new economic study suggests that a wide-scale water conservation program in Colorado could cost more than $120 million.
CD3 candidates agree on protecting Western Slope water, reservoir enlargements
Diane Mitsch Bush, the Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, pledged cooperation and Lauren Boebert, her Republican challenger, promised to fight — the Front Range, neighboring states and the federal government — to protect Western Slope water.
Farmers use the majority of Colorado’s water. Shouldn’t they bear the burden of future...
You’ve heard the news: Farmers and ranchers use roughly 80% of the water in Colorado and much of the American West.
So doesn’t it make sense that if growers and...
Data viz: explore our interactive dashboards for drought, precipitation and snowpack
These maps and visualizations let you interact with vital data on our water supply.