Historic drought, poor planning, competing political agendas and climate-change denial contributed to dangerously low levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, experts say. What’s being done to reverse the damage?
Jerd Smith
Fresh Water News
Email: jerd@wateredco.org Twitter: @jerd_smith
Posted inWater
Grand Lake will get no state help — for now — to restore its once-crystalline water
Pumping water from the Western Slope to the Front Range reduces clarity in Grand Lake, even though its scenic values are protected by federal law
Posted inWater
Western Slope water interests make $98.5M play to buy some of the Colorado River’s oldest water rights from Xcel
Xcel Energy owns some of the oldest water right on the Colorado River. A coalition is pushing the utility to sell it so they can control flows near Glenwood Springs.
Posted inWater
Grand Lake advocates want Colorado lawmakers to endorse restoration as lake’s clarity deteriorates
The local group is in a bureaucratic stalemate concerning the federal Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which moves water under the Continental Divide to Front Range communities
Posted inWater
Developers behind San Luis Valley water export plan pour money into Douglas County water district races
Two candidates for Parker water board received large campaign contributions from group wanting to build a $400 million pipeline to siphon water from southern Colorado
Posted inEnvironment
It’s all white: Colorado’s statewide snowpack tops 140%, though reservoirs are still low
Deep mountain snow in Colorado is good news, but what really matters is how reservoirs and soil moisture are replenished when it melts
Posted inWater
Jared Polis seeks $1.9 million to revamp Colorado River crisis team
The governor’s proposal calls for leadership change, a dozen new positions and adding $5 million to fund state water plan grants
Posted inClimate, Environment, News
River ecologists are eager to show how beavers are critical to improving watersheds in the West
Beavers, known for their work ethic, tenacity and sometimes destructive instincts, are making a comeback in the worlds of science and water as researchers look for natural ways to restore rivers and wetlands and improve the health of drought-stressed aquifers. “The concept of beavers and their ability to restore streams is not new,” said Sarah […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Water
14 Front Range cities coordinate to warn of water shortages in alarmingly dry year
As drought conditions intensify across Colorado, at least 14 cities in the Denver metro area say they will join forces to warn residents of looming water shortages and the need to cut back use this spring. Denver Water’s Jason Finehout said a metro drought coordination effort would help ensure a consistent message on reducing water […]
Posted inEnvironment
Squeezed by two megafires: Northern Water’s race to save Grand Lake
Craig Friar and Steve Anderson had seen wildfires smolder and flare before. But they had never seen one run. Until Oct. 21, when the East Troublesome fire sprinted 17 miles in less than three hours, threatening to engulf communities and giving these Northern Water staffers and others just hours to decide how best to move […]