California water agencies sent a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Interior proposing to conserve about one-tenth of its Colorado River use
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
Posted inWater
Colorado water officials oppose New Mexico lawmakers’ push for federal action on the Rio Grande
Legislation proposed by New Mexico politicians eyes federal workgroup for Rio Grande
Posted inWater
Farming, water and Wall Street on Colorado’s Western Slope
Agricultural producers in Colorado’s Grand Valley face difficult questions over the future of Colorado River water in the West
Posted inWater
100 years after the Colorado River Compact, the Southwest is nearing a crisis point
Pressure has intensified on the river as the driest 22-year stretch in the past 1,200 years has gripped the Southwest.
Posted inWater
Southwest states given more time to agree on water cuts to prevent largest reservoirs from reaching critically low levels
Despite giving states more time to negotiate, federal officials said some cuts were coming to parts of the Colorado River Basin
Posted inWater
Where does the water in Glenwood Canyon’s iconic Hanging Lake come from?
The U.S. Forest Service and a Missouri water-tracing company are trying to find the water source of the popular hiking destination
Posted inClimate
Inflation/climate bill includes $4 billion for buying water to save the Colorado River Basin
Bennet, other Western senators applaud funds meant to rent, buy or save water to fill the 2 million to 4 million acre-foot gap amid historic drought.
Posted inNews
Congress may extend program paying farmers, ranchers to use less water as Colorado River conservation pleas intensify
Colorado’s U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is pushing legislation that aims to make federal funding available to pay farmers and ranchers to voluntarily use less water by leaving their fields temporarily fallow. The Hickenlooper bill, which has bipartisan support, passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. It still has to be approved by the full […]
Posted inWater
Upper Basin states layout plan to help the Colorado River, but still say Lower Basin needs to chip in more
Colorado is among four states that sent a letter Monday to the Bureau of Reclamation with a plan, but also maintained the Lower Basin would need to take significant action
Posted inWater
Colorado River water use may have to be slashed by a quarter to avert crisis, federal official warns
Drought and other climate factors have already slowed the flow in Colorado and other Upper Basin states. Some water managers say cuts must come below Hoover Dam.