Colorado River

Many tribal homes, like this one in To’Hajiilee, NM, do not have reliable access to clean water, and instead have to truck it in from far away. A new bill aims to provide more funding for the operation and maintenance of water systems for tribal communities.

Two ideas are on the table to boost tribal access to clean water

Alex Hager

One is a bill in Congress to increase access to clean water. The other is a "shared vision" statement which outlines the goals of tribes and conservation nonprofits.

Snow hangs in Colorado's Elk Mountains in late May. The Colorado River gets the majority of its water from high-altitude snowpack, and climate scientists say it's likely that less water than normal will make it into rivers and streams.

Health, Science & Environment

The key to any water forecast in the West is really ‘what happens in the winter’

Alex Hager

Snow at high altitudes — where this past winter has left low totals — makes up the majority of the water that flows in the Colorado River.

Lake Powell, backside of Glen Canyon Dam, low water, March 19, 2022.

Health, Science & Environment

‘Extraordinary actions’ rolled out to prop up Lake Powell

Alex Hager

The Bureau of Reclamation announced two measures Tuesday to boost water levels to continue generating hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam.

F-35 group at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Nov. 19, 2018

News Briefs

PM Brief: Opioid lawsuit settlement, Hill AFB exercises & federal dollars for wildfires

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Tuesday evening, April 26, 2022.

iStock illustration GOP icon vs Democgraphic icon

News Briefs

PM Brief: Nominating conventions & states agree to Colorado River water cutbacks

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Friday evening, April 22, 2022.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which stores water in Wyoming and Utah, is poised to release 500,000 acre-feet of water downstream. The releases are designed to prop up sagging levels in Lake Powell, which could dip too low to generate hydropower.

Health, Science & Environment

A 'short-term fix' for Lake Powell's low water levels is on the way

Alex Hager

The releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir come as a response to record lows, which are on course to drop too low to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon dam.

A low river flows through a wide red rock valley with a bridge crossing it.

News Briefs

AM Brief: Colorado most endangered river & Intermountain overhauls landscaping

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Wednesday morning, April 20, 2022

Water levels in Lake Powell, seen here in May 2021, are dipping dangerously low. The federal government has proposed an unprecedented plan to cut back on water supplies for Arizona, Nevada and California. The measure aims to keep water levels high enough to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam.

Health, Science & Environment

Lake Powell is critically low and still shrinking. What happens next?

Alex Hager

The reservoir recently passed an important threshold, falling below 3,525 feet — the last major milestone before a threat to hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam.

Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, March 21, 2022

News Briefs

PM Brief: Draper City says no to new school district & feds consider emergency water cutbacks

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Wednesday evening, April 13, 2022.

Arches National Park, Turret Arch, Feb 2022

News Briefs

AM Brief: Salt Lake County water summit, Arches permit system & mule deer catch COVID

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Tuesday morning, March 29, 2022.

News Briefs

AM News Brief: Fishing tragedy in Uintah, light snow averages & growth of gambling in the West

KUER News

The latest Utah news for Monday morning, Feb. 21, 2022.

Health, Science & Environment

New plan lays out ways to protect Lake Powell from drought

Lexi Peery

The plan doesn’t include specifics about operations and timelines, but would offer a framework for what to do when Lake Powell nears critical levels.