Circle of Blue

Climate disasters aren't just destroying homes. They're breaking water systems — and sending the bill to residents... Story: buff.ly/nMVTNva #WaterCrisis #ClimateChange #WaterInfrastructure #EatonFire #HurricaneHelene #Drought #WaterUtilities #WaterPolicy #WaterSecurity #ClimateDisaster

April 1st snowpack report for the American West — and it's not good. CO hit its lowest snowpack on record. AZ lost 90% of its snowpack in just a few weeks. Many basins started melting in February. Read our coverage of the Western water crisis at the link. https://circleofblue.pulse.ly/kwyun5geon

Lake Powell is 75% empty — and dropping. Glen Canyon Dam is approaching a crisis point: no hydropower, no water for downstream users. The Bureau of Reclamation is running out of options. Watch Brett Walton's dispatch from the dam & read our stories on the Colorado River at www.circleofblue.org

Pete McBride's message to Colorado River water managers: get in the boat. Don't come back until you have a solution. 20 years of watching negotiations happen far from the river. Witness to Water is out now. Full interview: buff.ly/cPFrUB6 #ColoradoRiver #WaterCrisis #Photojournalism #DroughtWest

He paddled the Colorado River to the sea. He may have been the last person to ever do it — and he doesn't say that proudly. Mariachi bands. Dancing horses. Lawyers in leather shoes. Watch our full interview with Pete McBride about "Witness to Water": www.circleofblue.org/2026/supply/...

In the age of AI, the most radical thing a photograph can say is: this is real. Pete McBride has been bringing people to the Colorado River through his lens for over two decades. You can watch the full interview at www.circleofblue.org

The Great Lakes are entering a new energy era — and water is on the line. Our new Shockwave series explores what this energy boom means for the future of the lakes. buff.ly/3GJ34qk #GreatLakes #WaterAndEnergy #DataCenters #EnergyTransition #Freshwater #ClimatePolicy #WaterProtection #PowerDemand

This week in Fresh, Circle of Blue breaks down Indiana’s nuclear push, federal moves to exempt advanced reactors from environmental review, Michigan’s push to strengthen dam safety after years of failures, and a proposed constitutional right to clean water in Wisconsin.

Why are flood-prevention and watershed restoration projects being scrapped before they begin? From Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, @circleofblue reporter Christian Thorsberg explains how outdated federal floodplain rules are blocking conservation—and what Congress may do next.

The Colorado River is shrinking — and states are up against a Feb. 14 deadline to agree on water cuts or face litigation. Reporting from Las Vegas at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference. Follow @circleofblue for updates.

The Colorado River is shrinking — and states are up against a Feb. 14 deadline to agree on water cuts or face litigation. Reporting from Las Vegas at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference. Follow @circleofblue for updates.

The Year in Water 2025 is here. This report chronicles the critical stories of how people, policy, and climate intersect with this most essential resource. Dive in to understand the water challenges and solutions that will define the years ahead. Visit www.circleofblue.org

Real-time reporting from the American West: Circle of Blue’s Brett Walton was in Queen Creek, AZ, as the city approved a $244M deal to import groundwater from 90 miles away—a glimpse into how far Western communities are going to secure water. Stay tuned for more.

A decade after the Refugio Beach oil spill, a Texas company has restarted the same corroded pipeline — without full state approval. Santa Barbara residents are sounding the alarm, but California’s regulatory system is cracking under pressure from Big Oil. Read the story at www.circleofblue.org

The stage is set for another Santa Barbara oil spill. Federal approval of Sable Offshore’s damaged pipeline clashes with California, the nation's toughest environmental regulator. The outcome could define the U.S.’s commitment to hard-won environmental protections.