… The severe drought seizing Colorado may leave some of the state’s most popular lakes looking more like puddles by the end of the summer. Lakes aren’t just places for recreation and relaxation. … Many are reservoirs, and all that water goes toward agriculture and irrigation, in addition to the municipalities that need it for things like drinking water. This year, of course, there isn’t much water to go around. … In a normal year, those snowpacks feed our rivers, which flow into those reservoirs, leaving them plump and happy. This year, the rivers were more like a trickle, and that not only means not much went into the reservoirs, but that those who own water rights will likely have to use them sooner and in much greater gallons.

Other drought impact news:

• ABC15 (Phoenix): Gilbert tackles water waste by sending conservation specialists directly to residents’ front doors
• Daily Democrat (Woodland, Calif.): Drought, water restrictions drive innovation in tech
• Pagosa Daily Post (Pagosa Springs, Colo.): Opinion: We’re not ready for the parched summer ahead