Season 5 Episode 9
full episode
Drought and the Colorado River
Water storage at Lake Powell and Lake Mead is currently managed under guidelines developed in 2007. These are set to expire at the end of 2026, leaving Utahns in the Colorado River Basin working to consider many factors while renegotiating. With growing populations and higher needs for water, join experts in discussing what should be done
episode clip
Ute Tribe Water Rights
As western states negotiate future use of the Colorado River, there is a push to include indigenous voices in the discussions. That struggle is one the Ute Indian Tribe understands all too well. For decades, leaders on the Uintah-Ouray Reservation have been fighting for water rights. We spoke with tribal leaders about their ongoing water shortages and why they are fed up with broken promises.
Resources
Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University
Colorado River Basin - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Colorado River Compact, 1922 - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Colorado River Program | The Nature Conservancy
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) Management Center - Western Area Power Administration
Colorado River Water Users Association
Lake Powell Pipeline - Project Website
The Colorado River Authority of Utah
Utah Division of Water Resources - Colorado River Story
Utah Division of Water Resources - Colorado River Timeline
Utah Division of Water Resources - Utah’s Open Water Data
Utah Rivers Council - The Colorado River - Lake Powell Pipeline
