Colorado River Basin

Invasive zebra mussels could harm native fish and clog agricultural equipment. Until recently they had never before been seen in the stretch of the Colorado River near Grand Junction.

Water managers in the upper Colorado River basin took another step this week toward a more formal water conservation program that they say will benefit the upper basin states.

The limited snowfall could have big implications for the Colorado River, which gets most of its water from snow in the Rocky Mountains.

Representatives from two lower basin states on the Colorado River have said they would finally address something that the upper basin states, including Colorado, have long pressed them to do: Fix the supply/demand imbalance sometimes called the “structural deficit.”

At an annual meeting in Las Vegas, Colorado River policymakers said new rules may be a "messy compromise."

Policymakers say a wet winter has created space for discussions about long-term water management, but they have a diverse set of interests to consider while drawing up new rules.

The Imperial Irrigation District in California announced it will conserve 100,000 acre-feet of water in 2024, less than its initial water conservation goals.

There’s been an increase in hydropower projects across the U.S., including on different tribal reservations. But some advocates say tribes like the Navajo Nation aren’t being consulted enough about their development.

The Fifth National Climate Assessment highlights drought as a major hazard in the Southwest and says its impacts are most likely to harm tribal communities.

Winter snow in the Rockies provides the majority of the Colorado River's water supply. As negotiators work on long-term rules for sharing the river, a dry winter could add some urgency.