Utah declared a statewide drought emergency on May 21, 2026, after record warmth and poor snowpack left rivers, farms, and reservoirs under growing stress.

A California startup backed by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Omar Yaghi is developing large machines that harvest water directly from the atmosphere for drought regions and data centers.

Hoover Dam will receive $52 million in upgrades, including new turbines built to operate during lower Lake Mead conditions.

Western Colorado water users will see drought pricing return for the first time in nearly 50 years as dry conditions worsen.

A new Nevada law allows a second major Las Vegas water pipeline while expanding protected land in Sloan Canyon.

A major international study found groundwater levels declining across many regions, raising concerns about farming, drinking water, and long-term water security.