As goes the Colorado River, so go the national parks
A series by National Parks Traveler
How climate change is redesigning Canyonlands National Park
A warming climate has been linked to human activity around the world, and has affected the Colorado River System as well. The impacts are substantial, from reduced water flows, threats to indigenous species and the influx of new invasive species along the river system.
Not enough water and too many invasives at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Years of drought, upstream diversions and impoundments, and an overly optimistic forecast of Colorado River flows, have sapped the river once literally called Grand.
Climate change reducing Colorado River runoff
By Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler
By mid-century, annual runoff into the Colorado River could be reduced by nearly a third as declining snowpack leads to greater evaporation of snowmelt,...
Colorado River Econ 101
By Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler
From the high country in Rocky Mountain National Park a muddy flush of water rushes downstream, through western Colorado. It turns left, going south...