Perry Cabot is teaming up with researchers around the country to experiment with AI algorithms that could reshape modern irrigation systems.
Shannon Mullane
Shannon Mullane writes about the Colorado River Basin and Western water issues for The Colorado Sun. She frequently covers water news related to Western tribes, Western Slope and Colorado with an eye on issues related to resource management, the environment and equity. Her work is funded by a grant from the Catena Foundation.
Born in East Tennessee, Shannon has been in Colorado for about a decade and is based in Durango in southwest Colorado. Before joining the Sun's team, she contributed award-winning reporting on government, environment, health and more as a staff writer for The Durango Herald and as an intern for the Colorado Independent. She has also contributed reporting and photography to High Country News, The Salt Lake Tribune, ProPublica and Collective Colorado.
During her master's program at the University of Colorado Boulder, she focused her studies on environmental issues in Colorado and the West. Shannon attained a conversational fluency in French while working as an English language teacher in southern France.
Topic Expertise: Colorado River Basin, Colorado water, tribal water, water management, environment
Location: Durango
Language(s) in addition to English: French
Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA global studies, minor: french, grad: 2014); University of Colorado Boulder (MA in journalism, focus on environmental journalism, grad: 2019)
Honors & Awards: Shannon has received 18 awards in news contests. The Society of Professional Journalists, Colorado chapter, awarded Shannon with seven first-place awards; three, second place; and three, third place between 2019 and 2022 in the multi-state Top of the Rockies contest. The Colorado Press Association awarded Shannon three first-place awards and two second place awards between 2019 and 2022 in the Better News Contest.
Professional membership(s): Society of Environmental Journalists; Indigenous Journalists Association
Contact:
X (Formerly Twitter): @shannonmullane
Posted inWater
40 million people share the shrinking Colorado River. Here’s how that water gets divvied up.
Everything you wanted to know about the Colorado River but were afraid to ask.
Posted inWater
Why is Lake Powell so important to the Colorado River? Here’s what you need to know.
The massive lake acts like a savings bank for water users, but the account balance is low enough to make officials from across the West nervous
Posted inWater
Heat from global warming is drying up the Colorado River, UCLA says
It’s not just drought impacting the snowpack, researchers say. Higher Western temperatures are sucking vital water from the seven-state basin.
Posted inWater
Colorado River task force focuses first meeting on hopes, concerns about fast-paced process
Members from around Colorado met to discuss how the task force can fulfill its job: providing a unified recommendation for state legislators by December.
Posted inWater
“Irrefutable truths”: Colorado’s guiding principles going into Colorado River negotiations, according to its top negotiator
Becky Mitchell breaks down her list of priorities, talks transition into full-time negotiator role.
Posted inWater
What can Coloradans do to save water at home? Experts share tips, insight into water-saving strategies
From shorter showers to new faucets, Colorado experts break down the role of at-home water use in the Colorado River’s limited supply.
Posted inWater
Colorado sees major drop in water use as historic rains continued in June
Despite the good news, last month still set a global record for the warmest June in 174 years of data collection
Posted inWater
Colorado is drought-free for the first time since 2019. Will it last?
Over the past 22 years, the state has only seen short breaks from drought often followed by longer, more severe drought conditions.
Posted inWater
6 southern Colorado counties, facing drought and thirsty neighbors, move to block water exports
San Luis Valley counties band together in bid to delay or shut down water sales to Front Range, beyond