Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Historic reservoir lows. Ranchers selling cattle. Farmers losing water. Small towns wondering how much longer their taps will run. This week, Western Water Weekly follows the growing challenges unfolding across the Colorado River Basin as drought, extreme heat, shrinking reservoirs, wildfire, and critical policy decisions converge into one of the most consequential water stories in the American West.
In this week’s video summary of past news stories, we examine record-low combined storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, new federal forecasts, emergency agreements to preserve water, communities facing real shortages, major legislation moving through Congress, wildfire impacts on watersheds, and the scientific research shaping tomorrow’s water decisions. As negotiations continue over the Colorado River’s future before the current operating rules expire at the end of 2026, the choices being made today will influence millions of people, agriculture, ecosystems, and the economy for decades to come.
