The Colorado River is on the brink of collapse because of climate change and overuse of water. Reservoirs supplying water to tens of millions of people in the southwest reached record lows this summer.The nation is racing to refill them with conservation measures so they can still generate hydropower and reliably deliver water to users downstream. Fish are struggling. Rafters are having trouble navigating low water. Despite all this, the seven states sharing the water supply remain at a yearslong impasse over how to conserve the river. “The Colorado River is in as bad a shape as it’s ever been,” said Doug Kenney, chairman of the Colorado River Research Group at CU Boulder’s Getches-Wilkinson Center.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Podcast: Less Colorado River water will come to Phoenix. Here’s why you might not notice
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Arizona needs billions for water. Here’s how to pay for it
• Reno Gazette-Journal (Nev.): Opinion: Does Reno-Sparks have enough water for 600,000 people?
• Pacific Institute: Blog: The Colorado River Basin at night
• Ben Harding: Blog: CAP goes under the bus