Bureau of Reclamation Archives

It’s all white: Colorado’s statewide snowpack tops 140%, though reservoirs are still low

by Jerd Smith 3:55 AM MDT on Mar 30, 202310:44 PM MDT on Mar 29, 2023

Deep mountain snow in Colorado is good news, but what really matters is how reservoirs and soil moisture are replenished when it melts

Water

Upper Colorado River states land $125 million for pilot conservation program amid drought crisis

by Michael Booth 3:08 AM MST on Feb 14, 20239:35 AM MST on Feb 14, 2023

The major expansion of a previous experiment will be one of Colorado’s biggest contributions to emergency use cuts on the troubled waterway

Water

California releases its plan for Colorado River cuts, evaporation loss not included

by The Associated Press 3:45 AM MST on Feb 1, 20238:20 AM MST on Feb 1, 2023

California wants cuts based on Lake Mead elevation and not on water lost to evaporation and transportation, which Colorado and other states propose

Water

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

Water

Southwest states given more time to agree on water cuts to prevent largest reservoirs from reaching critically low levels

by Chris Outcalt 1:42 PM MDT on Aug 16, 20223:35 PM MDT on Sep 8, 2022

Despite giving states more time to negotiate, federal officials said some cuts were coming to parts of the Colorado River Basin

Climate

Inflation/climate bill includes $4 billion for buying water to save the Colorado River Basin

by Michael Booth and Chris Outcalt 4:08 AM MDT on Aug 9, 20221:33 PM MDT on Oct 6, 2022

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.

Water

Upper Basin states layout plan to help the Colorado River, but still say Lower Basin needs to chip in more

by Chris Outcalt 4:00 AM MDT on Jul 19, 20223:42 PM MDT on Sep 8, 2022

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

Climate, Environment, News, Water

Colorado’s drought is bad. Tree ring history shows it could get a lot worse.

by Michael Booth 4:08 AM MDT on Jun 24, 202210:49 AM MDT on Jun 24, 2022

What two stooped and warped sentinels in the Great Basin are telling us is a scary story, with a twist of possible redemption. Approximately 1,800 years after popping out of the ground as seedlings, live bristlecone pines are still talking to us nearly two millennia later. They offer warnings and insight into long-term drought in […]