As of today we have a new record low snowpack for the Upper Colorado River basin for late January.

Town council presented with flood recovery funding scenarios after FEMA denies funds -- The #PagosaSprings Sun #SanJuanRiver coyotegulch.blog/2026/01/11/t...

My latest in @protectparks.bsky.social's magazine, about a trip down Cataract Canyon to see how drought has drained a reservoir... and revived a river. www.npca.org/articles/112...

Beyond the requisite wondering lost through Vegas casinos, CRWUA started this year with a 1am wake-up by the neighbors drunkenly picking the wrong door to try to open. In Vegas, all who wonder apparently are lost

I don’t envy DOI’s responsibility in the CO basin, but I also don’t envy the position of state negotiators, who have been tasked with solving the water crisis, ensuring their state’s water supply, and complying with a compact that is straight off a Contracts exam asking “why is this void?”

A study in public policy crafted in the dark. Utah's negotiator claims no Colorado River deadline missed, the feds were pleased with progress on a plan... the public just can't see it yet. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

Litigation may take years, but power pool may take months. If it doesn’t start snowing, we’re going to need the construction speed of the dam building era just to avoid dead pool. The question is quickly turning from can we agree/litigate fast enough, to can we build fast enough.

“Litigation could take years, if not decades, to resolve. The effects of aridification are unfolding at a faster rate.” @danielrothberg.bsky.social invisiblewaters.substack.com/p/what-happe...

“Previous negotiations did not address core issues. They either delayed them or worked around them, making do based on the circumstances of the time.” Good piece from Caitlin Ochs on the legal questions behind the Colorado River talks: www.hcn.org/articles/why...

Getting the feeling the states want the feds to take the fall for the inevitable water cuts in both the Upper and Lower Basins.

And Glen Canyon lovers won’t want to miss this!

I have so many question about the regional precipitation impacts of drying up the massive wetlands fed by the Colorado River in Mexico (~3% of 1.9 million acres remain). Anyone know of any studies on the subject?

We’ve been closer to minimum probable than mid the last few years. Just sayin’ 👀

Want to see something really insane? Look at this website for USGS's Water Science Centers and Regions and see how many of their directors have "Former Employee" after their names. Everyone's gone! My best friend from grad school was one of them. Who's monitoring floods, droughts, etc?

A refreshing breakthrough on #ColoradoRiver negotiations: let's manage the river based on the actual water it has, not what was legally promised 100 years ago. (The fact that this idea is simultaneously "innovative" and...obvious...says a lot about western water policy) www.upr.org/mountain-wes...

Don’t tell me democrats are powerless - my 7 lb cat once stole the rabies syringe from the vet and escaped from 3 vet techs and the vet while waving the needle wildly in the direction of anyone who came near. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

2027 is shaping up to be a big year for the Colorado River with the potential for numerous firsts. Not sure we want to find out what those firsts lead to.

Lake Powell, the nation's second largest reservoir, is on track to have its second worst runoff season in the past 6 years. Flows are currently projected to be 49% of the long-term average.

Speaking with 'Dialogue Earth' about India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, I tell how using transboundary rivers as tools of coercion will affect India's credibility among neighbouring countries in South Asia. dialogue.earth/en/water/wha...

Please share with the water wonks in your life! Colorado Mesa University is hiring an Executive Director for the Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center. For more information and to apply, go to tinyurl.com/4v4x9vvs

FYI: Rapid snowmelt happening in Upper Colorado R Basin this wk...w/most of it heading on to Mead instead of staying in basin (thus, no rise in within-basin reservoirs or Powell). cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag... For Sierra (a bit further back re: melt status), see cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...

Water compact deliveries based on volumes instead of hydrology were a terrible idea 100+ years ago. But upholding those requirements now is an even worse idea.

I’ve been managing my health by staying off social media, but jumped back to share some stuff my colleagues and I have been writing about the Colorado River that feels important. A thread….

Yeesh. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

New on my Substack: I talked with UNM's @jfleck.bsky.social about why Colorado River negotiations are at an impasse and what happens when the federal government becomes an unreliable partner. www.westernwaternotes.com/p/q-and-a-th...

Congrats to DK! I hope him the best in retirement, but will say the Colorado River Basin will miss him. Maybe he'll pull an Eric Kuhn and won't go far?? And we can still benefit from his wealth of knowledge?? www.coloradoriverdistrict.org/after-thirty...

I understand there are more pressing issues at the moment, but gutting domestic programs is going to have long term impacts in the CO River Basin. Drought adaptation is expensive and essential. It takes time and investment.

Norm Nevills' Glen Canyon thirst trap 1938

Collateral damage from the current dysfunction in the Colorado River Basin governance community: www.inkstain.net/2025/01/wate...

Fun podcast with @zakpodmore.bsky.social onland.westernlandowners.org/2024/podcast...

How Colorado’s snowpack is stacking up so far this season. After a great November (salmon-colored), it’s been a lousy December (beige) for snow in the high country. nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...

At last week's meet up of Colorado River negotiators, there was a lot of talk about the "hopes and dreams" for future Upper Basin water development. Reporter Heather Sackett (Aspen Journalism) and I spent the last few months trying to put numbers behind those dreams: waterdesk.org/2024/12/colo...

Still processing CRWUA but a couple of my (unrefined) takeaways: -There’s a difference between being blunt and realistic and taking cheap jabs. Cheap jabs are just that, they make everyone mad and fail to move negotiations forward