Blue Mesa near Gunnison is for the moment safe from letting more water go, but Colorado River Drought Operations Plan says that could change
Navajo Reservoir
Posted inClimate, Economy, Environment, News, Opinion, Outdoors, Water
Analysis: As Colorado River Basin states confront water shortages, it’s time to focus on reducing demand
By Robert Glennon, University of Arizona The U.S. government announced its first-ever water shortage declaration for the Colorado River on Aug. 16, 2021, triggering future cuts in the amount of water states will be allowed to draw from the river. The Tier 1 shortage declaration followed the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s forecast that the water […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Water
Three Colorado River Basin reservoirs will be partially drained to keep Lake Powell producing hydropower
The nation’s Western drought is so severe that federal predictions of Colorado River flows into Lake Powell for 2021 dropped by the equivalent of 10 Lake Dillons in just six months, according to a key new report. In issuing the report Friday, U.S. water engineers said they will for the first time take water […]
Posted inEnvironment, Growth, News, Water
Even after a rush of snow and rain, the thirsty Colorado River Basin is “not out of the woods yet”
Colorado’s water year has been extraordinary. After nearly 20 years dominated by drought, a combination of heavy storms, persistent precipitation and cold temperatures conspired for a water bonanza not seen in decades. Today, rivers are swollen, ample snow lingers in the mountains and the statewide snowpack sits at 3,700 percent of normal (just one of […]