Gunnison River, with elevated selenium levels, faces review for reclassification
State water-quality officials will soon evaluate whether two water-improvement programs in the Gunnison River basin have successfully reduced a chemical that is toxic to endangered fish.
Colorado reservoirs down 25 percent as drought persists
Colorado’s reservoirs are 25 percent lower than they were last year at this time, as a hot, dry summer continues into the fall.
Colorado OKs drinking treated wastewater; now to convince the public it’s a good idea
Colorado joins three other states in approving a new rule that clears the way for drinking treated wastewater.
Special Report: Colorado launches major new series of stream protections
The process of protecting environmental flows takes an important step forward as three laws passed in 2020 start to take effect this year.
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
Critical April snowpack above average, but potential for dry spring causes concern
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.
Southern Ute Tribe and climate change
The megadrought in the Southwest is impacting everyone including Native American tribes that have lived here for thousands of years. For The Water Desk,...
Photos: Low snowpack in southwest Colorado, March 2026
This page in our free multimedia library features photos of the record-low snowpack in southwest Colorado along U.S. 550, between Durango and Ouray.
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Tri-State, Xcel, Colorado eye Yampa River water for “green hydrogen” projects
The Yampa Valley’s existing coal-fired plants have strong water portfolios that could be used to create green hydrogen or another storage technology called molten salt.
As Colorado ramps up PFAS drinking water tests, small towns brace for costly fixes
Renee Hoffman was never thrilled about the water quality at her house in Sleepy Bear Mobile Home Park on the outskirts of Steamboat Springs.
“It...