California water officials warn state could face third consecutive dry year as early snowpack dissipates
California water officials warned on Tuesday that the state is set to face another dry year after experiencing a significant lack of snow in January, potentially marking its third consecutive year…
Read More...Tribal nations are locked inside the U.S. water regime
New Mexico’s water-management agencies are having trouble keeping their rivers wet, and the problem will only get worse, according to a 50-year climate change and water study that was completed…
Read More...Extreme drought creates unlikely farming allies in the Arizona desert
As control of the river water that allows desert farming shifts, a deep love of agriculture unites groups that have historically been at odds.
Read More...Idaho Landowners Granted Limited SCOTUS Look at Wetlands Dispute
Two Idaho property owners can proceed in their challenge to a Washington, D.C., appeals court’s holding that their land contains wetlands subject to protection under federal water law, the U.S.…
Read More...New bill has Washington tribes, farmers divided over salmon protective zones
House Bill 1838, also known as the Lorraine Loomis Act — named after a Swinomish Tribe member who was a salmon recovery advocate in the state — would set up…
Read More...With less water on the surface, how long can Arizona rely on what’s underground?
In Arizona, verdant fields of crops and a growing sprawl of suburban homes mean a sharp demand for water in the middle of the desert. Meeting that demand includes drawing…
Read More...Water scarcity is about to get a lot worse. Irrigated agriculture doesn’t have a plan.
In much of the West and Southwest, the climate crisis is projected to raise average temperatures while reducing snowpack for much of the foreseeable future. These trends will significantly increase the risk of drought…
Read More...Nebraska will spend $500 million to claim South Platte River water from Colorado
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced a $500 million plan Monday to divert water out of Colorado under a 99-year-old compact between the states that allows Nebraska to seize access to…
Read More...“The Fish & the Flame” tells the story of rescuing cutthroat trout during the 416 Fire
Newly discovered San Juan cutthroat trout were saved during the 416 Fire in Durango. “The Fish & the Flame,” a new documentary film, tells the story of a Colorado Parks…
Read More...Corporations are consolidating water and land rights in the West
With farms, ranches and rural communities facing unprecedented threats, a worrying trend leads to a critical question: Who owns the water?
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