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Why Are Nine Front Range Counties Failing Federal Air Quality Standards?
The Denver Metropolitan and North Front Range region remains locked in a battle against ground-level ozone, with nine counties currently classified as serious nonattainment areas under Environmental Protection Agency standards. This affected zone stretches from the Wyoming border southward, encompassing Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Weld, and portions of Larimer counties. Stagnant summer…
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The Coming Water War: Why the Post-2026 Colorado River Guidelines Threaten a Century of Western Law
The Colorado River Basin is rapidly approaching a legal cliff, and the fall could permanently alter the landscape of Western water rights. At the end of 2026, the 2007 Interim Guidelines—the rules that currently govern how water is managed and distributed from Lake Powell and Lake Mead—are set to expire. In their wake lies a…
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Colorado’s rewilding crossroads: Wolves, wolverines, and a state learning in public
Colorado’s rewilding project is actively reintroducing gray wolves and preparing for wolverine returns. The wolf initiative, mandated by voters, faces challenges, such as livestock predation and high mortality rates. Wolverines, however, have garnered support among stakeholders due to lower conflict potential. Both efforts test the balance between ecological goals and rural community needs.
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Colorado’s Wolf Program Encounters Fresh Roadblocks in Search for Third Release Source
The voter-mandated gray wolf reintroduction program in Colorado is facing its most significant logistical challenges yet as the window for the third annual release rapidly approaches. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, or CPW, is currently struggling to secure a source population for the 10 to 15 wolves needed this winter, compounding the controversial nature of the…
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Future of Colorado River Uncertain as States Miss Federal Deadline for New Water Plan
Negotiators from seven states failed to submit a unified proposal for Colorado River water-sharing cuts by a federal deadline, leading to uncertainty in its management. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation may implement its own plan, resulting in major implications for agriculture and water supply, as deep divisions persist between Upper and Lower Basin states.