Water contributor: Brent Gardner-Smith Brent Gardner-Smith is the editor and executive director of Aspen Journalism. https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/contributor/brent-gardner-smith/rss en Battle Ahead in Colorado on Water Conserved for Lake Powell Storage Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 31 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/31/battle-ahead-in-colorado-on-water-conserved-for-lake-powell-storage https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/31/battle-ahead-in-colorado-on-water-conserved-for-lake-powell-storage With shortages looming, Colorado interests are struggling to finalize a drought contingency plan. The state is split between East and West over whether water saved to boost Lake Powell storage should be required or voluntary. In Colorado, Water Bosses Begin to Accept Climate Change Impacts American West Climate & Weather Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/08/in-colorado-water-bosses-begin-to-accept-climate-change-impacts https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/08/in-colorado-water-bosses-begin-to-accept-climate-change-impacts Old assumptions aren’t working to predict today’s water supplies in the Rocky Mountain state, much less the future. Many planning scenarios ‘are actually pretty scary,’ says one water official. For Colorado Candidates, New Water Storage a Key Political Identifier Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 12 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/12/for-colorado-candidates-new-water-storage-a-key-political-identifier https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/12/for-colorado-candidates-new-water-storage-a-key-political-identifier Size matters when the political debate turns to water storage in Colorado. Some candidates want as much as possible, some are only OK with small reservoirs. Either way, more Front Range water diversions are a touchy subject. Colorado Western Slope Pursues Water ‘Risk Study’ Without State Funds American West Management & Supply Fri, 10 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/10/colorado-western-slope-pursues-water-risk-study-without-state-funds https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/10/colorado-western-slope-pursues-water-risk-study-without-state-funds A battle over who should be funding a study to examine solutions to falling water levels in Lake Powell has revealed tension in Colorado between Front Range and Western Slope water interests. Plug Pulled on Program Paying Farmers to Conserve Colorado River Water Agriculture American West Economics Management & Supply Fri, 29 Jun 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/29/plug-pulled-on-program-paying-farmers-to-conserve-colorado-river-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/29/plug-pulled-on-program-paying-farmers-to-conserve-colorado-river-water A pilot program for irrigators in the Colorado River’s upper basin states will not continue past 2018, according to a recent decision by the Upper Colorado River Commission. But water conservation and storage remain a priority. Wringing What’s Left Out of Colorado’s Booming South Platte River Agriculture American West Economics Management & Supply Fri, 11 May 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/05/11/wringing-whats-left-out-of-colorados-booming-south-platte-river https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/05/11/wringing-whats-left-out-of-colorados-booming-south-platte-river Water agencies in Colorado’s Front Range are proposing new water storage and conveyance infrastructure, but the plans don’t include a new transmountain diversion to pipe water from the western side of the Rockies to the eastern side. New Aspen Landscape Ordinance May Save Water – but There’s a Big Catch American West Law & Policy Management & Supply Fri, 02 Mar 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/03/02/new-aspen-landscape-ordinance-may-save-water-but-theres-a-big-catch https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/03/02/new-aspen-landscape-ordinance-may-save-water-but-theres-a-big-catch Aspen, Colorado, has implemented regulations to curb outdoor watering by requiring new or remodeled residential projects to meet a water budget. But the city faces a shortage of auditors to certify compliance with the new ordinance.