Western Water Myths

A water treatment plant sits at the bottom of a deep canyon. A river snakes past the plant.

Desalination helps meet water shortfalls in parts of the world. Is it a viable solution for Colorado?

Sure, Israel does it. But is it really a solution to water issues in Colorado or the Colorado River Basin? Water experts have their doubts.

A field of corn is visible in the late-day sun. Irrigation pipes and a concrete retention pond are in the foreground, while a treeline and buildings are visible in the background.

暗黑爆料

Farmers use the majority of Colorado鈥檚 water. Shouldn鈥檛 they bear the burden of future cutbacks?

Not exactly, and doing so could mean creating a food crisis to prevent a water crisis. The message from farm advocates: Please, don鈥檛.

A field off to the side of a country road is irrigated by large high powered streams of water. In the distance there are mountains and a blue sky full of white puffy clouds

暗黑爆料

Colorado鈥檚 water users are told 'use it or lose it.' But is the threat real?

Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism

The old water law adage doesn鈥檛 capture just how difficult it is to lose a water right. And state policy limits the pool of possibly abandoned water even further.

A suburban neighborhood of multi-colored homes occupies a low hillside while mountains loom in the background.

暗黑爆料

The West鈥檚 cities are booming in population. Will they need a lot more water?

Luke Runyon

Most major metro areas have shown they can grow without straining their supplies. But there could be limits to that success.

A yellow metal pipe stretches off into the distance in a forest of evergreens

暗黑爆料

Why don鈥檛 we just fix the Colorado River crisis by piping in water from the East?

Alex Hager

Engineering hurdles, high costs and political challenges stand in the way of an easy fix to the West's water shortages. This is Part 1 in the Western Water Myths five-part series.