Floating down the San Joaquin River
The highly altered waterway still harbors stretches of wild beauty.
Streamflows in southern half of upper Colorado River basin declining faster
New climate data shows a north/south split in streamflow declines in the Colorado River Basin.
Colorado places 9th in national water conservation ranking
A new ranking shows Colorado in ninth place nationwide for its water-saving laws and policies, and in fourth place among states in the Colorado River Basin.
Crop in the crosshairs
The federal government is trying to save the water supply for 40 million Americans. It has released three possible plans to protect the Colorado River Basin, which is facing...
Why atmospheric rivers can be both harmful and helpful
These "rivers in the sky" can cause catastrophic flooding but are also critical for the West's snowpack
As flames scorch western forests, Flagstaff area offers roadmap for post-wildfire flood prevention
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – In July 2022, for the second time in a month, the landscape above the Wupatki Trails neighborhood took a beating.
The first blow was the Pipeline Fire,...
It’s all white: Colorado statewide snowpack tops 140%, though reservoirs still low
Drought in the West persists, but the increase in snowpack will likely allow for a significant recovery in reservoirs and soil moisture.
The Southwest monsoon season is changing, forcing ranchers and Indigenous farmers to adapt
Changing storms in the Southwest are altering timeless food traditions as researchers grapple with how to study the monsoon’s erratic nature.
Building a network for water journalism
The Water Desk is home to a collaborative network of media outlets that cross-publish content related to Western water issues.
Members are encouraged to share content, promote one another’s work...
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.