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The Colorado River at sunset below Glen Canyon Dam on Sept. 21. The seven western states linked to the Colorado River along with the U.S. Department of Reclamation are working on revisions to the 2007 Interim Guidelines which were put in place to preserve and balance water in lakes Powell and Mead. The new plan is scheduled to be implemented Jan. 1, 2026. Photo credit: Denver Water.
Featured Photo

Exploring the Colorado River and Lake Powell

Photo journal gives a firsthand look at the river and lake and shares Denver Water’s connection to the important waterway and reservoir.

October 21, 2020 | By: Jay Adams
The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered at Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada on May 20, 2019 to sign completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.
News Article

States sign agreement to help boost Lake Powell and Lake Mead

New plan aims to protect water supply across the Southwest after years of drought.

May 24, 2019 | By: Jay Adams
Video

Alert: Lake Powell is near historic lows and that’s a big deal for Denver

Take a video journey with Denver Water’s CEO/Manager to see drought impacts on the Colorado River and learn what we’re doing about it.

December 3, 2018 | By: Todd Hartman Jay Adams
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News Article

A big spring boost for one of Denver Water’s most important bank accounts

Lake Powell is expected to get a big water deposit this year — but the decades-long basin drought remains.

May 17, 2019 | By: Todd Hartman
LaKe Powell with red land surrounding it.
News Article

A watchful eye on the ‘Big River’

Amid dry soils and struggling snowpack in Denver Water’s collection area, longer-term Colorado River challenges also loom large.
Read Time: 5 mins
February 12, 2021 | By: Todd Hartman
Herbert Hoover presides over the signing of the Colorado River Compact
News Article

Why your kids should care about drought in California

A father’s attempt to explain why California water restrictions and dropping reservoir levels in Utah matter in Denver.

April 22, 2015 | By: Steve Snyder
Water sprays from Glen Canyon Dam into the Colorado River
News Article

Confronting Colorado River challenges

Denver Water is joining other utilities and districts to address water shortages on the lifeblood for the southwest.

February 12, 2019 | By: Todd Hartman
Lake Powell acts as a sort of savings account for upper-basin states in the Colorado River to store water to send to the lower-basin states. The lighter-colored rock, or "bathtub ring" shows how levels at Lake Powell continue to drop dramatically. Photo credit, Adam Kliczek, Creative Commons.
News Article

Letters to Arizona: Capping Colorado River use

Water crisis in the West could be exacerbated by one utility gaming the system.

April 23, 2018 | By: Steve Snyder
The bathtub rings on the edge of Lake Powell show the effects of a 19-year drought on the Colorado River that may be tied to a warming climate. Photo credit: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
News Article

Leaning into the challenge of climate change

Denver Water aggressively addressing ‘here and now’ of warming climate.

March 30, 2019 | By: Todd Hartman