High Country News

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
California's Tangled Water Politics

Will there ever be enough water in California's Bay Delta to satisfy farmers, keep fish alive and quench the thirst of millions of people?

by Matt Jenkins, Dec 20, 2010
California, here we come

California has a lot to teach the Interior West – particularly about clean energy and water conservation

by Paul Larmer, May 01, 2006
Colorado River states reach landmark agreement

The seven states of the Colorado River Basin have come to a groundbreaking agreement that, among other things, will allow cities such as Las Vegas to lease water from out-of-state farms during times of drought

by Matt Jenkins, Feb 20, 2006
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
Death by a thousand wells

Unregulated domestic wells are straining water supplies in Washington’s Yakima Valley and throughout the West.

by Cally Carswell, Oct 19, 2009
Dry to the bone

Despite a relatively snowy winter here in western Colorado, the season itself seems to have shrunk, with spring arriving weeks earlier than it once did in a trend with ominous consequences for the desert Southwest, particularly Phoenix.

by Paul Larmer, Apr 16, 2007
Federal budget deal slashes key community water funds

Federal budget cuts dry up the funding for crucial community water projects.

by Judith Lewis Mernit, May 01, 2011
Harvesting the sky

Thirsty Santa Fe, N.M., considers an innovative law requiring all new buildings to install rainwater-harvesting systems.

by Cristina Opdahl, Apr 02, 2007