** A view of the West's megadrought from a raft in the Grand Canyon
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Monday, August 9, 2021
Rafts beached on a muddy Colorado River at Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park | Al_HikesAZ, Flickr ([link removed])

Across the West, a multi-decade megadrought is leading to record-breaking fires ([link removed]) , smoke-laden skies ([link removed]) , and water shortages ([link removed]) . The drought has hit the Colorado River basin, which 40 million people rely on for water, particularly hard. After a rafting trip through Grand Canyon National Park, Inside Climate News reporter Judy Fahys offers an in-depth report ([link removed]) on how decades of efforts to improve ecosystem health in one of our nation's crown jewels are intersecting with the reality of lower water flows.

After the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, the Grand Canyon was whipsawed by extreme high and low flow levels—driven by the need to generate power for regional communities—which eroded beaches, reduced habitat for native fish, and made recreation opportunities less predictable. Decades of efforts by scientists and water managers have since improved the Grand Canyon's ecological health, leading to a resurgence in native flora and fauna.

This year, however, longtime observers of the Grand Canyon have noticed significant changes. Extreme low runoff has left the normally muddy Colorado River clear, bighorn sheep have migrated towards the river in search of water, and cliffside springs have run dry. "You know you’re dealing with a drought when you’re seeing desert plants falling over from lack of water," said ([link removed]) researcher Helen Fairley. Federal water managers are releasing upstream water ([link removed]) into Lake Powell, above the Grand Canyon, to avert the possibility that the Glen Canyon Dam will no longer have enough water to generate electricity.

Going forward, states and communities throughout the Colorado River Basin will face the tough task of grappling with the prolonged drought and accelerating climate change. Many Western states will almost certainly face water supply cuts ([link removed]) in 2022, as shortage provisions in the century-old Colorado River Compact go into effect. "We have to figure out how to keep people with enough water to drink and to sustain human life and society,” said ([link removed]) Fairley. ”At some level, it does become kind of a preeminent concern over every other issue."
Quick hits


** As wildfire smoke engulfs the West, a small town wonders how to do more than just survive
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** California's Dixie Fire mushrooms into second largest in state's history
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Reuters ([link removed])


** New Mexico members of Congress urge federal regulators to match state's strong methane rules for drilling
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Congress poised to fund significant cleanup of orphaned oil wells, but without bonding reform
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Two years after coal mines shut down on the Navajo Nation, Peabody has not begun cleanup
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Navajo Times ([link removed])


** Opinion: Utility merger could bring more renewables to New Mexico, Navajo Nation
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])


** Rural electric co-ops have lagged in renewable energy, but many members are urging a faster transition
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Wall Street Journal ([link removed])


** Opinion: As California works to protect 30% of its lands, Latinos need a seat at the table
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Desert Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
I urge Congress to quickly tackle the situation with orphaned oil and gas wells and work to reform our leasing system. Dinosaur National Monument, other park areas, public lands and communities need the direction, resources, and the momentum to address these hidden dangers.”

—Denny Huffman ([link removed]) , former superintendent of Dinosaur National Park
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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A hike to Sky Pond at @RockyNPS ([link removed]) in Colorado rewards you with striking views of jagged cliffs that rise dramatically from fields of wildflowers. Pic courtesy of Matthew Terral.

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