Colorado River Portal Offers Data Tool for Environmental Journalists

Cookie Control

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

Some cookies on this site are essential, and the site won't work as expected without them. These cookies are set when you submit a form, login or interact with the site by doing something that goes beyond clicking on simple links.

We also use some non-essential cookies to anonymously track visitors or enhance your experience of the site. If you're not happy with this, we won't set these cookies but some nice features of the site may be unavailable.

By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.

Cookies are on

(One cookie will be set to store your preference)

Do not ask me again
(Ticking this sets a cookie to hide this popup if you then hit close. This will not store any personal information)

Colorado River Portal Offers Data Tool for Environmental Journalists

January 20, 2016

Water may be for fighting over, but water data is worth cheering about. A new Interior Department data portal may help journalists cover the ever-critical issue of water shortage and surplus in the Colorado River basin and nationwide.

The portal, titled "Drought in the Colorado River Basin," presents a complex picture of flow in the geographically complex Colorado River system. Right now there is hardly enough water in the Colorado to meet everyone's needs and wants — a situation which produces news.

The main web page for the portal is here. It is part of a broader interagency initiative called the Open Water Data Initiative.

At the foundation of federal water data structures is the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System. Also essential is the U.S. Drought Monitor.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet

Topics on the Beat:

Technology

Water & Oceans

Region:

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY)

Visibility:

Public