Despite May bringing near normal precipitation and temperatures to the state, June has gotten off to a hot and dry start, spiraling Colorado into drought conditions. Understanding more about Colorado’s hydrology is critical to understanding how the drought developed — and got bad enough that the state declared it an emergency on June 4 — and why not even a “super El Nino” can revive conditions this summer. Colorado’s mountains give rise to four major U.S. rivers — the Arkansas, Colorado, South Platte and Rio Grande — earning it the title of “the headwaters state.” … The Colorado River alone has 12 major transmountain diversions that carry water east. …Greg Fisher, Denver Water’s head of demand planning and efficiency, said it serves about a quarter of the state’s population using less than 2% of the state’s water. “We can’t get through droughts without our customers saving water,” … Fisher said. 

Other drought and water conservation news around the West:

• The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.): Snow pack down as low as 0%. What drought could mean to Californians
• KNAU (Flagstaff, Ariz.): An exhibit at Northern Arizona University is mapping the state’s water crisis
• The Arizona Republic: Opinion: Want to fix Arizona’s water issues? Start with our heat