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Recent Articles from Alex Hager KUNC
A plumbing issue at Lake Powell dam could mean big trouble for Western water
Conservation groups are calling for changes to the management of Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest reservoir, after the discovery of damaged plumbing within the dam that holds it back.
Gila River Indian Community rejects states’ plan for Colorado, works with feds
The Gila River Indian Community said it does not support a plan backed by three states for managing the Colorado River’s shrinking water supply, and is instead working with federal officials to develop its own proposal for water sharing.
New climate report shows impact of drying on human health in Southwest
The arid West is getting drier, and shrinking water supplies pose a boatload of risks to human health throughout the region.
Tap water is cheap, but old pipes, a shrinking Colorado could change that
With infrastructure that is aging and needs replacement, municipal water departments in the Colorado River basin are starting to invest in new systems that will help cities adapt to a future with a smaller water supply. But that means big spending, costs that will get passed along to the millions of people who use that water in sinks, showers and sprinklers.
‘Scoping’ results show new Colorado River rules will face a range of demands
A new federal government report shows Colorado River states are aiming to agree on a plan to cut back on water but remain divided about how to share the shrinking supply among tens of millions across the Southwest.
Water-short cities want to use every last drop – even if it used to be sewage
In the Western U.S., there’s more demand for water than there is supply, so cities with finite water supplies are finding creative new ways to stretch out the water they already have. For some, that means cleaning up sewage and putting it right back in the pipes that flow to homes and businesses.
Getting Colorado River water from California farms will take more than just money
The Imperial Valley produces $2.9 billion in crops and livestock each year. That’s because the valley’s Imperial Irrigation District holds the largest single allocation of Colorado River water – bigger than any other farming district or city between Wyoming and Mexico. But now, that water allocation is under increasing scrutiny from water managers looking to cut back on water use and correct[...]
Meet the Colorado River’s newest – and youngest – power player
JB Hamby is a water policy bigwig, who helps shape policies that define how water is used by arguably the most influential water users along the Colorado River. He serves on the board of directors for the Imperial Irrigation District and was recently appointed to be California’s top water negotiator. And he’s only 27 years old.
At Lake Powell, record low water levels revealed an ‘amazing silver lining’
If you want to see the Colorado River change in real time, head to Lake Powell.
Where did the snow go? Researchers probe gap between snowfall, runoff
The Colorado River watershed stretches from Wyoming to Mexico, supplying cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles and sprawling fields that contribute to a multibillion-dollar farm economy. After two decades of drought and steady demand, accurate data on the amount of water entering the region’s dwindling supply is crucial for those who manage it.
Wet winter allows for rare ‘high-flow’ Lake Powell release to help river
An extra pulse of water was sent through the Grand Canyon this week, part of a Bureau of Reclamation “high-flow experiment” designed to move and redeposit sand and sediment from the Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona.
Colorado River senators meet quietly to facilitate states’ water talks
Senators from Arizona and the six other Western states in the Colorado River basin have been quietly meeting “for about a year,” to facilitate difficult discussions between the states over the future of the river.
