The study found that groundwater losses in the Colorado River basin were 2.4 times greater than the amount of water lost from the surfaces of Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and a number of other smaller reservoirs that store Colorado River water.
About Alex Hager
Alex is KUNC's reporter covering the Colorado River Basin. He spent two years at Aspen Public Radio, mainly reporting on the resort economy, the environment and the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he covered the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska.
Recent Stories by Alex Hager
From ‘mashed potatoes’ to ‘white suede,’ this ski instructor speaks the language of snow
Russ Scholl has published a 133-square grid full of funky colloquialisms for different kinds of snow.
Colorado River states are separated by a ‘giant chasm’ in negotiations
For years, ABC15 has been tracking the ongoing negotiations among Colorado River Basin states as they work toward new long-term water management guidelines set to take effect in 2026.
‘If you are not at the table, you are on the menu:’ Tribes submit ideas to manage Colorado River
Six Native American Tribes that use water from the Colorado River have signed an agreement with the river’s Upper Basin states, including Wyoming.
A ‘snow drought’ is leaving the West’s mountains high and dry
“It’s really going to be dependent on what we see in January and February,” said one climatologist. “We’re really going to need an active January and February to make up these deficits and be okay.”
New Colorado River rules will be hard to agree on. A new report shows just how tricky it could be
State leaders are reluctant to volunteer major water cutbacks, trying to soften the blow that could be dealt to growing cities and agricultural economies if new reductions are rolled out.
Snow detectives are in the mountains to solve a mystery: Where’s all the snow going?
High mountain snow is melting, filling reservoirs in the Colorado River system. But some of that snow is disappearing before it melts.
Want to bridge the West’s water divides? Start with fifth graders
“My hope is that they’ll become ambassadors for a healthier way to look at water.”
