High Country News

(Manmade) snow is for fighting over

In an increasingly arid West, snow-making becomes a more important component of a ski area’s operating plan. But they need water to make snow, and getting it isn’t always easy.

by J.R. Logan, Mar 04, 2013
A Colorado newspaperman fights for his valley's water

Bob Rawlings, publisher of the Pueblo Chieftain, has battled for decades to bring water to southeastern Colorado and, once it's there, to keep it no matter what.

by Matt Jenkins, Mar 26, 2012
A good idea – if you can get away with it

Rainwater harvesting is against the law in many Western states, but folks in Utah, Colorado and Washington want to change that.

by Peter Friederici, Oct 08, 2008
A little wild

Percentage of federally owned land and wilderness in Western states

by HCN Staff, Sep 18, 2006
A River Once More

In Oregon, a revolutionary community alliance is working to put water – and steelhead trout – back into the Deschutes River

by Matt Jenkins, Oct 16, 2006
California strikes a water truce

A landmark California water deal has Imperial Valley irrigators finally agreeing to sell Colorado River water to San Diego, without sacrificing the Salton Sea

by Matt Jenkins, Oct 27, 2003
Colorado water diversions, urban and rural

Colorado's Front Range and Western Slope communities and farms have always wrangled over the water produced high in the Rocky Mountains.

by Sarah Gilman, Mar 18, 2012
Energy Colonizes the West

Acres leased for drilling in the West

by HCN Staff, Sep 18, 2006
Failure of leadership, not a lack of water, dooms the Klamath River

Only the federal government can find away to protect both salmon and farmers in the Northwest’s Klamath River watershed

by Tim Holt, Sep 13, 2004
Farmers and ranchers say city is stealing water

In New Mexico, Alamogordo’s plan to build a desalinization plant and tap the Tularosa Basin aquifer has area ranchers and farmers worried

by Hilary Watts, Apr 18, 2005