Upper Colorado News & Highlights
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News Release – May 26, 2026
The UCB Adaptive Management and Water Quality Division is having a busy spring, and multiple recently funded research projects focused on water quality management, forecasting, groundwater research, and fish species management in the Colorado River Basin area will certainly keep the work flowing strong.“ We’re extremely pleased to see so many innovative projects receive funding this year because the future management of the Colorado River will depend on our ability to continuously adapt, improve our understanding of the system, and make informed decisions using high-quality data,” said Bill Stewart, acting manager of the Upper Colorado Basin Region Adaptive Management and Water Quality Division. “These projects represent important investments in new technology, forecasting, monitoring, and research that will help us better respond to changing conditions across the Basin while supporting reliable water management for the future.” Read More »
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News Release – May 18, 2026
Navajo Dam road reopens to two-way traffic prior to busy summer travel seasonDURANGO, COLO. –New Mexico Highway 511 over Navajo Dam, located about 45 miles east of Farmington, New Mexico, is re-open to two-way traffic ahead of schedule and before peak recreation season begins. Read More »
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News Release – May 5, 2026
Road closure over El Vado Dam planned for this summer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The road across the top of El Vado Dam in northern New Mexico will be closed this summer as part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s ongoing dam rehabilitation efforts.
New Mexico State Road (NM) 112 at El Vado Dam near Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico will be closed for 14 weeks beginning May 27 through Sept. 4 as safety investigations are conducted into the dam’s foundation. Read More »
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News Release – April 17, 2026
WASHINGTON — Long-term drought has reduced Colorado River system storage to about 36 percent of capacity, and the combination of the lowest snowpack on record and record-breaking March heat has further intensified drought conditions across the Basin. These compounding factors are creating elevated risks to essential water and power infrastructure that supply water to more than 40 million people, underscoring the need for immediate action. Read More »
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News Release – April 16, 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Water managers on the Rio Grande in New Mexico are bracing for drought conditions created by the earliest snowmelt on record, one of the lowest snowpacks on record and already low reservoir storage. The Bureau of Reclamation’s annual operating plans for the Rio Grande and Pecos River reflect the poor hydrology. Read More »
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News Release – April 16, 2026
Reclamation announces $6.3 million in technical assistance to tribes
Washington — The Bureau of Reclamation is investing $6.3 million in 10 tribal water projects, including several projects to ensure clean, reliable drinking water. Read More »
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News Release – April 13, 2026
Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center reopens for the 2026 seasonDUTCH JOHN, Utah - Just in time for spring, the Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center reopens April 15, welcoming visitors back to explore the story behind one of the region’s most iconic landmarks. The visitor center will be open daily from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Mountain time. Read More »
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News Release – April 6, 2026
FARMINGTON, N.M. ─ The Bureau of Reclamation is advancing the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project with a $67.7 million contract to construct the San Juan Lateral’s river intake and pumping plant in northwest New Mexico. The Bureau of Reclamation awarded the contract to Ames Federal Contracting Group, LLC. Read More »
Advancing Water Quality Through Innovation
Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought
Consecutive years of extreme drought and earliest snowmelt on record create challenges on the Rio Grande
Bureau of Reclamation advances Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project with $67.7 million contract for construction of the project’s San Juan River intake facilityExplore
