Southwest Water Crisis News

A curated selection of news coverage and official sources on the Colorado River system, drought conditions, water policy, and infrastructure developments affecting the American Southwest.

Curated reading list|15 articles

ENVIRONMENTSep 20, 2026

At Glen Canyon Dam, Trump administration privileges hydropower over ecosystems

Reclamation declined to run either a cold-water "cool mix" release to suppress invasive smallmouth bass or a high-flow beach-building release from Glen Canyon Dam in 2026, citing hydropower losses under strained system conditions. The river below the dam is the warmest since the dam was built, and a dam-infrastructure appraisal study is expected in early 2027.

KUNC

POLICYSep 14, 2026

Reclamation Publishes Final Environmental Impact Statement for Future Colorado River Operations

U.S. Department of the Interior

DROUGHTMay 11, 2026

Lake Powell Runoff Forecast To Hit Record Low

Newsweek

POLICYMay 7, 2026

Lower Basin states offer short-term plan as conditions worsen on Colorado River

Post Independent

INFRASTRUCTUREApr 29, 2026

Glen Canyon Dam Faces Its Existential Moment

Circle of Blue

DROUGHTApr 17, 2026

Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought

Bureau of Reclamation

POLICY

Post-2026 Colorado River Operations: Record of Decision and Operating Guidelines

Bureau of Reclamation

News Sources

A hand-picked list of reporting from regional newspapers and public radio plus official Bureau of Reclamation pages, updated by hand rather than by a live feed. Dates are the source's own publication dates where we could confirm them. Every link goes to the original publisher.

Southwest Water Crisis News

At Glen Canyon Dam, Trump administration privileges hydropower over ecosystems

Wyoming, Upper Basin States: Water Taken From Flaming Gorge Should Be Replaced

Elephant Butte Reservoir plunges to 1.4% of capacity

What the new rules for a shrinking Colorado River mean for tribal nations

Nevada sues over Colorado River cuts. Arizona is weighing its options

Lake Powell faces low-elevation operations in 2027

Interior Department Finalizes Plans for 2027-2028 Colorado River Operations

Arizona sees largest Colorado River cuts under new federal water deal

Lake Mead water level hits record low

Reclamation Publishes Final Environmental Impact Statement for Future Colorado River Operations

Lake Powell Runoff Forecast To Hit Record Low

Lower Basin states offer short-term plan as conditions worsen on Colorado River

Glen Canyon Dam Faces Its Existential Moment

Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought

Post-2026 Colorado River Operations: Record of Decision and Operating Guidelines

News Sources

Southwest Water Crisis News

At Glen Canyon Dam, Trump administration privileges hydropower over ecosystems

Wyoming, Upper Basin States: Water Taken From Flaming Gorge Should Be Replaced

Elephant Butte Reservoir plunges to 1.4% of capacity

What the new rules for a shrinking Colorado River mean for tribal nations

Nevada sues over Colorado River cuts. Arizona is weighing its options

Lake Powell faces low-elevation operations in 2027

Interior Department Finalizes Plans for 2027-2028 Colorado River Operations

Arizona sees largest Colorado River cuts under new federal water deal

Lake Mead water level hits record low

Reclamation Publishes Final Environmental Impact Statement for Future Colorado River Operations

Lake Powell Runoff Forecast To Hit Record Low

Lower Basin states offer short-term plan as conditions worsen on Colorado River

Glen Canyon Dam Faces Its Existential Moment

Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought

Post-2026 Colorado River Operations: Record of Decision and Operating Guidelines

News Sources