western water

A new approach to addressing water scarcity is underway — one that turns farmland into projects that benefit both people and the environment. Researchers say parched Mountain West states could learn from it.

A new report shows America’s water systems need more than a trillion dollars in upgrades in the coming decades. In the West, states are dealing with shrinking reservoirs, worsening drought, and a lack of data to plan for the future.

A new study finds that human emissions are the main culprit behind the decades-long drought that ebbs and flows across the Western U.S. Scientists warn the drier pattern could become the new normal, with major implications for water supplies.

A new study shows climate change is causing the Earth’s supply of fresh water to quickly disappear. One of the world’s fastest-drying regions is the American Southwest, where future food supplies could be threatened.

A new report shows the Mountain West needs to prepare for data centers, which are expected to demand massive amounts of energy and water. Experts say communities should adopt policies that prevent energy bills from rising and water supplies from shrinking.

A new analysis shows more than two-thirds of data centers built – or in development – since 2022 are in drought-prone areas, including parts of the Mountain West. Experts warn this could strain water supplies for cities and farmers.

A new study shows climate change is melting glaciers and permafrost in the Mountain West. Researchers say this can trigger the production of toxic mercury in mountain wetlands, posing risks to water supplies and wildlife.

For decades, hydrologists believed most spring snowmelt rapidly enters rivers and streams. But a new study from the University of Utah shows that most of it spends years as groundwater before it spills into reservoirs – new research that could help western water managers and farmers better plan each year.

A new study reveals snow in the Rocky Mountains is contaminated with mercury and other metals, and that pollution has historic causes.

Utah lawmakers have given the state more voice in negotiations over the Colorado and Bear rivers. The move, however, has some environmentalists concerned about the sensitive multi-state agreements that govern the rivers.