Downloads & Resources
Downloads
Resources
Data & Maps
USBR’s 24-Month Projections
The 24-Month Study projects future Colorado River system conditions and is released monthly, typically by the 15th day of the month.
Colorado Climate Center
The Climate Center is dedicated to the development of tools and methods to better communicate the climatology and climate variability of Colorado to scientists, educators, stakeholders, media, and the general public.
Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
Hydrologic forecast information for national environmental and economic well-being.
NRCS Colorado Snowpack Products
Current snowpack conditions
Upper Colorado River Basin Reservoir Status (Reclamation)
Current reservoir capacity in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
Lower Colorado River Basin Operations (Reclamation)
Current conditions, ongoing programs and activities, project operations, historical data, etc.
Western Water Assessment Intermountain West Dashboard
The Intermountain West Dashboard provides situational awareness of weather, drought, and water resources for Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Colorado River Science Wiki
A web-based clearinghouse for scientific and technical information relevant to the Colorado River Basin and the management of its water resources and related natural resources.
Drought.Gov Colorado River Basin Current Conditions
This map shows the drought conditions of the Colorado River Basin watershed, using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4).
Education
Britannica – Colorado River Overview
A basic overview of the Colorado River Basin.
The Headwaters Report
A digital blog site, bulletin, and source for Tribal water law information and resources.
Tribal Nations: The Original Stewards
A collection of resources related to the Indigenous Tribes in the Colorado River Basin.
Federally Recognized Tribes in the Colorado River Basin
A map of the federally recognized Tribes in the Colorado River Basin
Colorado River Delta & Restoration Efforts
The Colorado River once formed a lush delta teeming with birds and aquatic species as it flowed into the Gulf of California. Due to dams and diversions, the Colorado River Delta is now a remnant of its former self.
We Are Water – Science Education Resource Center
A collection of hands-on and virtual activities for youth, families and adults to learn more about how water affects our planet and communities!
Colorado River Basin Project – University of Wisconsin–Madison
This educational series offers instructors and students short (7-20 minute) videos on different topics related to the Colorado River Crisis.
Center for Colorado River Studies – Utah State University
The Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University is a nexus for innovative research, teaching, and outreach that informs management of the Colorado River and other major rivers of the American Southwest.
Bureau of Reclamation – Colorado River Basin
A running overview of the agreements in place that manage the Colorado River system.
USGS- Colorado River Basin Science
The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, a branch of the Southwest Biological Science Center, conducts scientific assessments of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, focused primarily on Lake Powell and the river ecosystem downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. The page shares related interactive tools and projects by other USGS Centers that cover science across the upper and lower Colorado River Basin.
Audubon – Explore the Habitats along the Lower Colorado River
Audubon StoryMap guides viewers along the Lower Colorado River, highlighting its importance for birds and people.
Media
Podcasts, Videos, Documentaries & Books
Read & Listen

Thirst Gap: Learning to live with less on the Colorado River
Thirst Gap is a six-part podcast series about how the Southwest is adapting to water shortages as climate change causes the region to warm up and dry out. From KUNC.

Parched: A Colorado River Solutions Podcast
Parched is a podcast about people who rely on the river that shaped the West – and have ideas to save it. From Colorado Public Radio
Water and Tribes – In the News
A running collection of news articles curated by the Water and Tribes Initiative.
Cornerstone at the Confluence: Navigating the Colorado River Compact’s Next Century
Cornerstone at the Confluence leverages the centennial year to reflect on the compact and broader “Law of the River” to envision the future.
Watch
Colorado River in Crisis: A Los Angeles Times documentary
Journalists from the Los Angeles Times travel along the Colorado River to examine how the Southwest is grappling with the water crisis.
Listening to Tribal Nations on Water Rights and Solutions
To better understand tribal needs and tribal priorities, the Walton Family Foundation is actively listening to communities in the desert Southwest. Those efforts to listen have surfaced a critical but often overlooked need: ensuring universal access to water for tribal communities.
Panel: Colorado River water users share what it’s like to take cuts to their water supply
Disclaimer: The resources listed on this page are provided for public education and exploration. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the views expressed are those of the original creators. This list is not exhaustive, and the absence of a particular resource should not be interpreted as disapproval or disagreement. We aim to offer a range of perspectives to support a broader understanding of the Colorado River.