Record low levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell prompted the federal government to look at how it might impose cuts to keep hydropower generation going at the nation’s largest reservoirs.
About Luke Runyon
As KUNC’s reporter covering the Colorado River Basin, Luke digs into stories that show how water issues can both unite and divide communities throughout the Western U.S.
Recent Stories by Luke Runyon
The Colorado River Compact just turned 100 years old. Is it still working?
The November anniversary came as the Colorado River is facing its most-pressing crisis, with reservoirs declining to record lows.
A mud-caked ‘terra incognita’ emerges in Glen Canyon as Lake Powell declines to historic low
Since Glen Canyon Dam was commissioned in 1964 and it first began filling, Lake Powell has never been like it is right now, at just 27% of its capacity.
Lake Powell—Nation’s Second-Largest Reservoir—Hits Record Low
The popular recreation hot spot on the Arizona-Utah border has dwindled over the past 21 years due to low river flows exacerbated by warming temperatures.
After Decades Of Warming And Drying, The Colorado River Struggles To Water The West
Shortage declarations and restrictions are likely to go into effect in the Southwest in the coming months.
For Western Drinking Water, Wildfire Concerns Linger Long After Smoke Clears
Another record-breaking year of wildfires across the American West means more cities are bracing for impacts to their drinking water supplies. The “consistently clean, clear water” residents have enjoyed is changing.
New Survey Explores Americans’ Relationship to Water
People’s personal connections to water and where they live determine how they feel about taking action on water issues, the survey found.
As Western Coal Plants Close, Newly ‘Liberated’ Water Supply Emerges
Coal-fired power plants are closing, or being given firm deadlines for closure, across the country. In the Western states that make up the over-allocated...
