Irrigation

The current cost estimate to replace the failing structure, with about 30 percent of design work complete, is $137 million. But costs could rise given the project’s quick time frame.

Some experts say the System Conservation Pilot Program, or SCPP, is costly and may not be the most effective way to save Colorado River water.

Many farmers across the Mountain West grow alfalfa, which is dried into hay and fed to beef and dairy cattle. But it requires a lot more water than most crops. Now, researchers are working on new technologies to reduce the amount farmers use. Still, some say allowing them to grow such a thirsty crop in the arid West is the problem.

A new study reveals how climate change and irrigating crops are affecting river flows in the Western U.S.

The System Conservation Pilot Program is ready to spend additional millions from the Inflation Reduction Act to save water in the agriculture industry through 2024.

Water is scarce in much of the Mountain West. That’s why, every spring, one tribe spends days cleaning ditches that are vital to irrigating their farmlands. But aging infrastructure and the effects of climate change are making it harder for farmers to get enough water – even after the cleanings.

The breach occurred on Jul. 1 and has caused damage to residences, multiple farms, and at least one business. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the failure.

Jackson Lake will see historically low water levels this summer, according to an announcement from federal water managers.Nearly all of the reserve water stored in the lake will be released into the Snake River to meet the downstream irrigation needs in Idaho. Legally, Wyoming only has rights to four percent of water in the Snake River system.

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) WaterSMART Initiative has partnered with the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Initiative for about 10 years to help farmers and ranchers conserve water and build drought resilience. The NRCS recently invested $21 million in the partnership to increase the effectiveness of the program in the west, and just over $1.2 million of that is going to the program in Wyoming.

The conversation around water speculation has been heating up in Colorado in recent months. At the direction of state lawmakers, a work group has been meeting regularly to explore ways to strengthen the state’s anti-speculation law.