Growing rain in the desert
Landowner innovation and long-term research is showing that low-tech restoration practices not only capture more rainwater, they may create more rain. In the desert of southern Arizona lies a remarkable story
Water your livestock, legally
For many Western landowners, stockwatering and irrigation go hand in hand. Without a stockwater-specific water right, however, users could be operating outside of their established decree. Understanding your water right,
Beyond Scarcity: Can we restore vitality in a drying West?
The West is used to drought. Aridification, however, is a whole other level. Aridification is more than drought, more than megadrought. Think Sahara. Think Gobi. Increasingly, this is the forecast for
Irrigation Efficiencies and Modernization for Agricultural Producers
Irrigators around the West face a multitude of challenges when it comes to using water. The effects of drought, development, and aging infrastructure impact nearly every agricultural community, and finding
Is Use It Or Lose It An Absolute? Historical consumptive use and understanding your water rights
What does “use it or lose it” really mean in the context of western water? Should water rights holders divert their entire decree? How does historical consumptive use factor into
Rancher innovations to support soil health and water management as the climate changes
Soil health is gaining increasing notoriety as a major driver of agricultural water efficiency and drought resilience. But how can ranch managers and graziers rapidly improve soil health to cope
What landowners need to know about process-based restoration
Jackie Corday, owner of Corday Natural Resources Consulting and tri-chair of the Colorado Healthy Headwaters Working Group, joined the Western Landowners Alliance for a presentation about the key considerations for
Stream Access: A Western Water Issue
In March of 2022, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding the public’s right to access waterways that flow through private land. As noted by the court in
We asked landowners about water
New research highlights agricultural water users’ preferences for addressing water shortages in the Colorado River Basin Forty million people in the West rely on water from the Colorado River Basin for
New survey pinpoints trust gap on water for irrigators
Survey of Colorado River Basin irrigators reveals challenges, pathways for agricultural water conservation An in-depth survey of more than 1,000 farmers and ranchers in the Colorado River Basin has some startling
Preparing for Rain
By Ellen Waterston A Conversation with Becky Hatfield Hyde & Taylor Hyde, owners of Hatfield Hyde Land Trust, Brothers, Oregon When it comes to this busy, hopscotching duo, finding Becky Hatfield Hyde
Water Weekly: “There’s really nothing new under the sun in the Colorado River space.”
A new breed of water speculator is remaking the American West, and some really cool projects funded by LOR Foundation's Field Work program.