About The Water Desk
The Water Desk is an independent, nonprofit journalism initiative with three priorities:
Stories and reports
Colorado won’t launch water-conservation program in 2027 without guarantee from feds
Officials say saved water should not be released for Lower Basin use
Utah’s urban residents rely on Colorado River water. Here’s how it gets there.
This story is part of a series on Utah’s transbasin diversions, produced by The Salt Lake Tribune, KUER and KSL. It was reported in...
Drought is reshaping Colorado’s ranches, one herd at a time
In Colorado’s North Fork Valley, Bill McKee has been selling off his herd of cattle. A combination of drought and increased hay costs put...
Water Desk news and grant announcements
Journalists selected for Rio Grande training and workshop in El Paso
The Water Desk is excited to announce the participants for our next Rio Grande journalist training and workshop, taking place in El Paso, Texas,...
Apply now for The Water Desk’s new Rio Grande journalist training and workshop in...
This program is no longer open to applications.
The Water Desk is excited to announce an in-person training and workshop for journalists interested in covering...
Special Series: Crisis on the Colorado
The Water Desk is pleased to republish this outstanding five-part series by Jim Robbins and Ted Wood for Yale Environment 360.
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.
Crisis on the Colorado Part II: On a Water-Starved River, Drought Is the New...
With the Southwest locked in a 19-year drought and climate change making the region increasingly drier, water managers and users along the Colorado River are facing a troubling question: Are we in a new, more arid era when there will never be enough water?
Crisis on the Colorado Part III: Running Dry– New Strategies for Conserving Water
Communities along the Colorado River are facing a new era of drought and water shortages that is threatening their future. With an official water emergency declaration now possible, farmers, ranchers, and towns are searching for ways to use less water and survive.
Latest multimedia content
This content is free to use and repost by media organizations and others under a Creative Commons license.
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Resources
We’ve collected a series of resources that help explain the complex and sometimes contentious world of water issues.
Materials for SEJ Chicago, April 2026
Hands-on Workshop
Downloading, Reformatting and Visualizing EPA Drinking Water Data
Materials for the Society for Environmental Journalists conference in Chicago on April 15, 2026.
InstructionsSlidesData...
Cases, agreements and treaties
The legal intricacies of Western water can be difficult to wade through. This timeline offers an introduction to some key cases, agreements and treaties....
Resources: Background readings
Browse our background reading resources.
Colorado River Basin
Helpful online resources for learning more about the Colorado River Basin.
1922 Colorado River Compact
1922 Colorado River Compact Meeting...
Glossaries
It’s hard to understand water issues unless you know the lingo. Here are some helpful water-related glossaries on the web:
The U.S. Geological Survey's Dictionary...
Water books
Want to go deep and really learn about water issues? Here's a list of great nonfiction books on (Western) water issues, curated by Mitch...
Media and journalism
On this page you'll find a guide to water media and examples of great water journalism. Have a suggestion for a story or outlet...