Indigenous nations in the basin are making a stand for their water — and upsetting the river’s power structure.
Colorado River
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On its 100th birthday, the Colorado River Compact shows its age
The foundational document was flawed from the start.
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Interior’s plan won’t solve the Colorado River crisis. Here’s what will.
What if farmers competed with one another to cut water consumption?
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Can the Salton Sea be saved?
Climate change, megadrought and agricultural needs have transformed the ‘jewel in the Californian desert’ into a toxic place.
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The Colorado River’s alfalfa problem
Growing less hay is the only way to keep the river’s water system from collapsing
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Colorado River Basin tribes work to protect their water rights
Amid historic drought and federal calls for cuts, tribes along the river face difficult choices.
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The feds declined to seriously cut Colorado River water use. Here’s what that means
After Southwestern states failed to cut a deal, the Interior Department took it easy on them.
Posted inSeptember 1, 2022: Going Under
Can Arizona citizens use the tools of democracy to preserve the state’s dwindling water?
How a group of ‘scrappy’ locals are working to create Arizona’s first citizen-initiated groundwater management area.
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In the wake of fires and floods
Climate disasters across the West wreak havoc on economies and livelihoods.
Posted inJune 1, 2022: A Legacy of Weapons and War
As Lake Powell levels drop, see inside Glen Canyon Dam
The hydropower plant that powers about a quarter of a million homes is run by a team of mechanics, electricians and more.
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Nebraska’s curious ‘canal to nowhere’ would siphon water from Colorado
Water experts say the $500 million project won’t really do anything to help the Cornhusker State’s water supplies. What’s going on?
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Yes, the drought really is that bad
The Western U.S. is experiencing its worst drought since 800 A.D.
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Utah wants to build an oil railway through a wilderness area
Questions surround the fiscal viability of the project and how this aligns with Biden’s climate agenda.
Posted inJune 1, 2022: A Legacy of Weapons and War
Powell’s looming power problem
Drought and demand threaten a critical component of the Western grid.
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Arizona faces a reckoning over water
The state’s powerful will to grow is challenged by extreme heat, deep drought and serious water-related stress.
Posted inApril 1, 2022: The Archives Issue
How the Earth stores records of the past
When human data doesn’t go back far enough, researchers turn to natural archives.
Posted inMarch 1, 2022: The Cloning Conundrum
Colorado River, stolen by law
Indigenous nations have been an afterthought in U.S. water policy for over a century. That was all part of the plan.
Posted inMarch 1, 2022: The Cloning Conundrum
Tribes along the Colorado River navigate a stacked settlement process to claim their water rights
The gauntlet leaves those nations in an unjust state of limbo.
Posted inMarch 1, 2022: The Cloning Conundrum
Tribes negotiate for a fairer future along the Colorado River
The Colorado River Interim Guidelines will expire in 2025, and Indigenous officials like Daryl Vigil are pushing to replace them with a more inclusive framework.
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At the Colorado River conference, ‘It’s really no longer a drill’
Water managers announce new measures to deal with dwindling water supply.