Author: By Jerd Smith Fresh Water News
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Colorado River Drought Task Force offers slate of potential fixes to drought-proof ailing waterway
24 recommendations will be voted, including small storage projects, more flexibility in sharing water stored in reservoirs, and new tools to measure water
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Polis moves to revamp team dealing with Colorado River drought crisis
Under pressure to protect the state’s dwindling supply of Colorado River water from other states with more political clout, Colorado is reshuffling its river leadership team and asking lawmakers to approve $1.9 million in funding for a new policy and technology task force on river issues. The changes include shifting Rebecca Mitchell from her role…
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Colorado river basins publish their wish list for sustainable water future
Colorado communities from Greeley to Durango have identified $20.3 billion in water projects that will help ensure residents have adequate water, that agricultural supplies are protected, and that rivers and streams can continue to support fish and wildlife as population growth, chronic drought and climate change threaten future water supplies. The state faces a gap…
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Last summer’s massive wildfires bring heavy metals to this year’s spring runoff
Liz Roberts is digging into snow-soaked dirt just above the banks of Grizzly Creek in western Colorado. With bare fingers she sifts through the dark soil, looking for life amid the ruins of last summer’s devastating Grizzly Creek fire. When she finds tiny dormant roots, she smiles and exposes more soil to show visitors that…
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Squeezed by two megafires: Northern Water’s race to save Grand Lake
Craig Friar and Steve Anderson had seen wildfires smolder and flare before. But they had never seen one run. Until Oct. 21 when Grand County’s East Troublesome fire sprinted 17 miles in less than three hours, threatening to engulf communities across the county and giving these Northern Water staffers and others just hours to decide…