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Reposted by Morgan

Morgan Sjogren @morgansjogren.bsky.social · 17d

And Glen Canyon lovers won’t want to miss this!

Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · 29d

I have so many question about the regional precipitation impacts of drying up the massive wetlands fed by the Colorado River in Mexico (~3% of 1.9 million acres remain). Anyone know of any studies on the subject?

Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Aug 15

Asked about this once and was told “we’re always within the error range, so the model is accurate.” My friend, if we’re in the bottom 10% 30% of the time, the model’s not working.

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Aug 15

We’ve been closer to minimum probable than mid the last few years. Just sayin’ 👀

Zak 🦦 Podmore @zakpodmore.bsky.social · Aug 15

Reclamation's updated reservoir projections were released today. Lake Powell could hit all-time lows next summer, threatening hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam.

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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · May 3

Want to see something really insane? Look at this website for USGS's Water Science Centers and Regions and see how many of their directors have "Former Employee" after their names. Everyone's gone! My best friend from grad school was one of them. Who's monitoring floods, droughts, etc?

Water Science Centers and Regions

A list of all of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area Science Centers and regions, hubs for critical water science funded by Federal, State, and other partners and stakeholders located throughout the...

www.usgs.gov

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Melissa Sevigny @melissasevigny.bsky.social · Jun 26

A refreshing breakthrough on #ColoradoRiver negotiations: let's manage the river based on the actual water it has, not what was legally promised 100 years ago. (The fact that this idea is simultaneously "innovative" and...obvious...says a lot about western water policy) www.upr.org/mountain-wes...

New Colorado River proposal breaks over year long negotiation deadlock

Colorado River states appear to be coalescing around the early makings of a new plan to share water in a way that accounts for climate change.

www.upr.org

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Jun 24

Don’t tell me democrats are powerless - my 7 lb cat once stole the rabies syringe from the vet and escaped from 3 vet techs and the vet while waving the needle wildly in the direction of anyone who came near. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · May 23

2027 is shaping up to be a big year for the Colorado River with the potential for numerous firsts. Not sure we want to find out what those firsts lead to.

Luke Runyon @lukerunyon.bsky.social · May 23

A moderately dry winter in '25-'26 could have the massive reservoir again flirting with a loss of hydropower production by early 2027.

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Luke Runyon @lukerunyon.bsky.social · May 23

Lake Powell, the nation's second largest reservoir, is on track to have its second worst runoff season in the past 6 years. Flows are currently projected to be 49% of the long-term average.

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Ashok Swain @ashoswai.bsky.social · May 9

Speaking with 'Dialogue Earth' about India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, I tell how using transboundary rivers as tools of coercion will affect India's credibility among neighbouring countries in South Asia. dialogue.earth/en/water/wha...

What India’s river moves mean for South Asian water cooperation

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty marks a turning point in transboundary water diplomacy with Pakistan – and could destabilise South Asian regional cooperation

dialogue.earth

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · May 7

Like bellbottoms, I’m just glad I managed to hold onto old cars with knobs and buttons long enough to bypass the damn touch screens.

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Kirsten Kurath @kirstenk63.bsky.social · Apr 22

Please share with the water wonks in your life!

Colorado Mesa University is hiring an Executive Director for the Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center. For more information and to apply, go to tinyurl.com/4v4x9vvs

Executive Director, CMU Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center

See job ad.

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Morgan

Mike Dettinger @mdettinger.bsky.social · Apr 18

FYI: Rapid snowmelt happening in Upper Colorado R Basin this wk...w/most of it heading on to Mead instead of staying in basin (thus, no rise in within-basin reservoirs or Powell).

cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag...

For Sierra (a bit further back re: melt status), see

cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Apr 8

Water compact deliveries based on volumes instead of hydrology were a terrible idea 100+ years ago. But upholding those requirements now is an even worse idea.

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John Fleck @jfleck.bsky.social · Mar 22

I’ve been managing my health by staying off social media, but jumped back to share some stuff my colleagues and I have been writing about the Colorado River that feels important. A thread….

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Mar 21

Yeesh.
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

This is the next border fight — and it’s a stinker

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is picking a fight with Mexico over sewage flowing into San Diego.

www.politico.com

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Daniel Rothberg @danielrothberg.bsky.social · Feb 12

New on my Substack: I talked with UNM's @jfleck.bsky.social about why Colorado River negotiations are at an impasse and what happens when the federal government becomes an unreliable partner. www.westernwaternotes.com/p/q-and-a-th...

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john-berggren.bsky.social @john-berggren.bsky.social · Feb 10

Congrats to DK! I hope him the best in retirement, but will say the Colorado River Basin will miss him. Maybe he'll pull an Eric Kuhn and won't go far?? And we can still benefit from his wealth of knowledge??

www.coloradoriverdistrict.org/after-thirty...

After Thirty Years, Dave Kanzer to Retire - Colorado River District 2024

Dave Kanzer, Director of Science and Interstate Matters, to retire from the Colorado River District after thirty years of service.

www.coloradoriverdistrict.org

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Feb 7

The basin will feel the impacts of federal cuts/freezes for many years to come through depressed rural economies, degraded ecology and positive feedback loops resulting in decreased runoff.

Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Feb 7

Switching to perennial drought tolerant crops, improving soil health, etc. take time, water, and money. If we wait until the cuts happen, it will be too late. The longer we wait, the more difficult, if not impossible, this adaptation becomes.

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Feb 7

There simply isn’t the money at the state level for drought adaptation to be done in an ecologically and economically sustainable manner.

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Feb 7

I understand there are more pressing issues at the moment, but gutting domestic programs is going to have long term impacts in the CO River Basin. Drought adaptation is expensive and essential. It takes time and investment.

Graph of snowpack in the San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan basin as of February 7, 2025. Snowpack is at 65% of median for this date over the last 30 years.

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Zak 🦦 Podmore @zakpodmore.bsky.social · Jan 23

Norm Nevills' Glen Canyon thirst trap 1938

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John Fleck @jfleck.bsky.social · Jan 13

Collateral damage from the current dysfunction in the Colorado River Basin governance community: www.inkstain.net/2025/01/wate...

Water for Navajo is the latest victim of Colorado River Basin governance dysfunction

Winters rights are no match for the current dysfunction of Colorado River Basin governance. Shannon Mullane at the Colorado Sun has been on this, and last week had some useful details: Advocates of…

www.inkstain.net

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Morgan @cowaternerd.bsky.social · Jan 8

The argument is more that the issue is indeed extremely nuanced and complicated, and not as simple as “stop growing things.” When economic devastation to rural communities is on the table, combined with reimagining the entire water, food and land management system, “it’s complicated” is accurate.

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