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The Colorado Sun

The Colorado Sun

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  • Trending:
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Chris Outcalt

Chris Outcalt covers Western water issues for The Colorado Sun. He began his journalism career in New Hampshire, then moved West and became a reporter at the Lafayette News. He also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily. His freelance work has appeared in The Atlantic, Wired and Atavist. He is a recipient of the Livingston Award. Chris lives in Carbondale.


Email: chris@coloradosun.com Twitter: @chrisoutcalt

A bridge crosses over Grand Lake with large mountains in the background.
Posted inWater

Is the water in Grand Lake too murky?

by Chris Outcalt 3:27 AM MST on Dec 18, 20225:03 PM MST on Dec 16, 2022

A local advocacy group has renewed longstanding questions about how pumping water from Grand County to the Front Range disrupts Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake

Posted inWater

Colorado’s soil moisture is better than in recent years. But that’s not saying much.

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MST on Nov 21, 20223:39 PM MST on Nov 17, 2022

The relationship between dry soil conditions in the fall and spring runoff has gained more attention in recent years across the Colorado River Basin

Posted inEnvironment

Early-season snow off to good start in Colorado’s high country

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MST on Nov 11, 20226:15 AM MST on Nov 11, 2022

Colorado’s snowpack is 140% of average for this time of year — but it’s still far too early to tell what kind of snow year the state will have

Posted inWater

International water researcher highlights Colorado Basin’s “disappearing” groundwater 

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MST on Nov 7, 20226:15 PM MST on Nov 6, 2022

Satellite data shows groundwater has dropped faster across the Colorado River Basin than reservoir levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead

Posted inWater

How to buy a San Luis Valley reservoir

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MDT on Nov 2, 20228:46 AM MDT on Nov 2, 2022

A local water district, a federal land agency, a state wildlife group and a national environmental nonprofit partnered on a creative water deal with multiple benefits for the valley

Posted inWater

Colorado River managers looking to release less water from Lake Powell 

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MDT on Nov 1, 20228:45 PM MDT on Oct 31, 2022

Another significantly dry year combined with a 7 million acre-foot release could drop the reservoir below the point at which the dam can no longer generate hydropower

Posted inWater

Northern Water board lowers initial Colorado-Big Thompson quota for first time since 2010

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MDT on Oct 24, 202210:04 AM MDT on Oct 24, 2022

Responding to the drier conditions in the Colorado River Basin, the board is taking what one member described as a “wait and see” approach

Posted inWater

Hydropower production down 20% as the Upper Colorado River system finished water year 2022

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MDT on Oct 18, 20229:12 AM MDT on Oct 18, 2022

Agencies that both distribute and rely on Colorado River hydropower are rethinking how much energy they can count on in the future

Posted inOutdoors

New camping fees for Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness coming in 2023

by Chris Outcalt 3:30 AM MDT on Oct 14, 20224:29 PM MDT on Oct 13, 2022

The U.S. Forest Service will institute an overnight permit and fee system next year as visits to the area near Aspen have quadrupled

Posted inWater

Can a strain of wheatgrass with an odd name help Colorado farmers use less water?

by Chris Outcalt 4:30 AM MDT on Oct 10, 202211:33 AM MDT on Oct 10, 2022

Farmers and agricultural researchers across the state are testing the viability of a drought-tolerant perennial wheatgrass developed in Kansas called Kernza

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