Water in the West

Gov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.

"We need more people taking concrete actions to regenerate our degraded water cycle in ways that respect the limits of our semi-arid environment." - Darryl Birkenfeld (Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons)

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.

The System Conservation Pilot Program is ready to spend additional millions from the Inflation Reduction Act to save water in the agriculture industry through 2024.

The latest study from the Bureau of Reclamation shows how a wet winter in 2023 helped boost Lake Powell and Colorado River water supplies. But experts say more cuts to demand for the water supply are needed.

A new drought task force will meet nine times between now and early December to create solutions for Colorado's water concerns.

Cities throughout the Colorado River basin are looking to stretch out their existing water supplies in the face of climate change and steady demand. Some are turning to direct potable reuse, which treats wastewater until it's clean enough to drink.

Moderate drought conditions have come back to Colorado after the state experienced a fleeting few drought-free weeks.

Data from Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows an increase in swiftwater deaths amid a snowy, rainy year.

Farmers in California's Imperial Valley have the single largest water allocation along the Colorado River. They say they need to be compensated before taking cutbacks.