Upper Colorado News & Highlights
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News Release – Aug. 16, 2022
WASHINGTON — As the worsening drought crisis continues to impact communities across the West, the Department of the Interior today announced urgent action to improve and protect the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System, including commitments for continued engagement with impacted states and Tribes. The Bureau of Reclamation also released the Colorado River Basin August 2022 24-Month Study, which sets the annual operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead in 2023 in light of critically low reservoir conditions. Read More
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News Release – Aug. 4, 2022
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Reclamation launches new prize competition looking for improved precipitation measurement devicesWASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a new prize competition seeking new and improved ground-based precipitation devices. These devices should be reliable, accurate, low maintenance, and able to operate in remote areas in extreme weather conditions. The Counting Every Drop Challenge is a two-phase prize competition totaling up to $300,000 in prizes. In phase 1, the top 8 selected solutions will be awarded $10,000 and invited to continue in the competition. The ideal solution will not require fluids, such as antifreeze, to operate. Phase 1 white papers describing proposed solutions are due on Oct. 24, 2022. Read More
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News Release – Aug. 2, 2022
DENVER - As the western United States faces unprecedented severe drought conditions, the Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the award of six drought planning activities for 2022 WaterSMART: Drought Contingency Planning grants. This program provides federal cost-share funds for entities to develop and update comprehensive drought plans, employing a proactive approach to build long-term resiliency to drought. Read More
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News Story – July 26, 2022
Drought Intensifies on the Rio GrandeNear record temperatures and extreme drought conditions have led to drying of the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque area for the first time since the early 1980s. Read More
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News Release – July 8, 2022
Reclamation urges public to exercise caution below Glen Canyon DamPAGE, Ariz - The Bureau of Reclamation urges those recreating on or along the Colorado River through Glen and Grand canyons to exercise increased caution as summer energy demands and resulting dam operations may cause sudden rapid changes to the river’s flow. Read More
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News Release – June 23, 2022
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today published a Federal Register notice to assist in its efforts to develop future Colorado River operating provisions. Several decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of crucial Colorado River facilities, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and the management of Colorado River water will expire at the end of 2026. The notice seeks specific input on how to foster meaningful participation by all stakeholders in preparation for beginning the National Environmental Policy Act process to develop post-2026 operating approaches for the Colorado River, and operating strategies to address post-2026. Read More
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News Release – June 21, 2022
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced $25.5 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to safeguard local water supplies in the face of severe western drought. Read More
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News Release – June 9, 2022
FARMINGTON, N.M. — The Department of the Interior today commemorated the completion of a major component of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) that will deliver water to communities within the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Nation through the Cutter Lateral, a recently constructed water treatment pipeline that delivers clean water to over 1,500 households. Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez joined Tribal leaders at an event celebrating the transfer of operation, maintenance and replacement responsibilities of the Bureau of Reclamation-owned reaches of the project to the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. Read More
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News Release – June 9, 2022
DENVER – The drought currently impacting the upper Colorado River Basin is extremely severe. A new study from federal government and university scientists led by the Bureau of Reclamation and published in Geophysical Research Letters identifies a second-century drought unmatched in severity by the current drought or previously identified droughts. Read More
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News Release – June 3, 2022
Commemoration event to be held for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project's Cutter Lateral
FARMINGTON, N.M. – The Bureau of Reclamation and the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources will co-host an event Thursday, June 9, in New Mexico to commemorate the completion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project's delivery of project water to the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Nation communities through the Cutter Lateral. The operation, maintenance, and replacement responsibilities of the Reclamation-owned reaches of the project will also be transferred to the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. Read More
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News Release – June 1, 2022
Six-month test of injection well begins at Paradox Valley UnitGRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Reclamation today restarted operations of the Paradox Valley Unit (PVU), a crucial salinity control facility for the Colorado River system. For the next six months, the PVU will operate at a reduced capacity to gather data that will help guide future operational decisions. Read More
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Interior Department Announces Actions to Protect Colorado River System, Sets 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
Reclamation welcomes public input on development of future Colorado River operations during historic drought
President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Provide $25.5 Million for Water Efficiency Projects in Eight Western States
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Adds Critical Resources to Newly Completed Tribal Water Delivery Project
New study finds extreme, severe drought impacting the upper Colorado River basin in the second centuryExplore
