Parts of the Mountain West could be nearly snowless for years at a time in just a few decades.
Colorado River
Posted inArticles
Utah has a water dilemma
Record-breaking drought along the Wasatch Front forces tough decisions about water supply.
Posted inArticles
The Westiest programs in Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The act is the New Deal redux, with a splash of ecosystem restoration.
Posted inSeptember 1, 2021: Where Wolves May Tread
Record temps; hot dam; roadkill for dinner
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inSeptember 1, 2021: Where Wolves May Tread
The incredible shrinking Colorado River
Climate change and rising demand are sucking the life out of the Southwest’s water supply.
Posted inArticles
Colorado River water shortages highlight the urgency of reducing water waste
Conservation, water reuse and better irrigation technology all make more sense than proposed water pipelines.
Posted inArticles
Who should pay for climate mitigation? Colorado looks to the oil industry.
Lawsuits across the state accuse the energy companies of deceptive practices that escalated the climate crisis.
Posted inArticles
Climate change sinks Lake Powell, local rec industry
The water line has dropped to historic lows, and house boats are at risk of being marooned.
Posted inJuly 1, 2021: An Urban Greenspace Revolution
A hallucinogenic toad in peril
How a Sonoran Desert species got caught up in the commodification of spiritual awakening.
Posted inJune 1, 2021: Once and Future Fires
Rapid growth in Arizona’s suburbs bets against an uncertain water supply
‘The alternative is something they don’t want to think about.’
Posted inArticles
The Gila River Indian Community innovates for a drought-ridden future
Through partnerships and exchanges, the community is ensuring that its members have long-term access to their own resources while helping solve broader water supply problems.
Posted inArticles
There are no clear winners in the West’s water wars
As climate stressors raise the stakes, states put energy into litigation before conservation.
Posted inApril 1, 2021: Holding Fast
The Biden administration’s critical role in Indian Country
Four important decisions will impact the forests, lands and waters of tribal nations.
Posted inMarch 1, 2021: The Rough Road Ahead
Will the climate crisis tap out the Colorado River?
Water availability is going from bad to worse in the seven states that rely on the drought-stricken river.
Posted inJanuary 1, 2021: No Place Like Home
Will California finally fulfill its promise to fix the Salton Sea?
Decades have passed and millions of dollars spent, yet little has been done to restore the lake. California officials say it’s all been leading up to this moment.
Posted inArticles
Six states threaten lawsuits if feds fast-track the Lake Powell Pipeline
The Trump Administration’s plan to expedite review of Utah’s diversion project undoes decades of collaborative agreements between the states that rely on the Colorado River.
Posted inArticles
Fast-growing Western cities face megadrought
Eleven states and northern Mexico will likely experience a drought more severe than any since the 1500s.
Posted inArticles
Meet the outfitters welcoming Grand Canyon rafters to a COVID-19 reality
‘A harsh ending to a pretty wonderful experience.’
Posted inApril 1, 2020: Land-Grab Universities
‘This system cannot be sustained’
This year, tribal nations enter negotiations over Colorado River water.