Colorado River Materials

Overview

Colorado River Materials

Publications and products related to this vital resource.

Colorado River Bundle
Maps & Posters

Colorado River Bundle
Special discount with combined Layperson's Guide & Map

Combining our 2024 Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Basin and poster-size Colorado River Basin Map gives you a discounted price of $35 and the resources you need to understand one of the world’s most dramatic and developed rivers. Please note they ship separately.

Add the Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Delta for an additional $7.50 (half-priced), using the discount code COLORADODELTA.

Cover of Layperson's Guide to the Colorado River Basin
Publication Colorado River Basin Map

Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Basin
Updated 2024

Learn the history and challenges facing the West’s most dramatic and developed river. 

The Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Basin introduces the 1,450-mile river that sustains 40 million people and millions of acres of farmland spanning seven states and parts of northern Mexico.

The 28-page primer explains how the river’s water is shared and managed as the Southwest transitions to a hotter and drier climate.

Maps & Posters

Colorado River Basin Map
Redesigned in 2017

Redesigned in 2017, this beautiful map depicts the seven Western states that share the Colorado River with Mexico. The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Mexico. Text on this beautiful, 24×36-inch map, which is suitable for framing, explains the river’s apportionment, history and the need to adapt its management for urban growth and expected climate change impacts.

Publication

Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Delta
Published 2017

The Colorado River Delta once spanned nearly 2 million acres and stretched from the northern tip of the Gulf of California in Mexico to Southern California’s Salton Sea. Today it’s one-tenth that size, yet still an important estuary, wildlife habitat and farming region even though Colorado River flows rarely reach the sea.

River Reports

On the Edge of the Next 100 Years
2022 Colorado River Symposium Proceedings

The written proceedings of the Foundation’s 2022 Colorado River Symposium, “On the Edge of the Next 100 Years.” This two-and-a-half day, invitation-only event held in September 2022 brought together some of the top policymakers in the Colorado River Basin. Discussions included the future of the 1922 Colorado River Compact, the impact of climate change on the Basin, tribal parity and partnership in Colorado River Basin management, the U.S.-Mexico partnership, and recommendations from Colorado River Water Leaders on the 2026 river operating guidelines.

2019 Colorado River Symposium Proceedings book
River Reports

Can We Build a Bridge to a Grand Bargain in the Basin?
2019 Colorado River Symposium Proceedings

The written proceedings of the Foundation’s 2019 Colorado River Symposium, “Can We Build a Bridge to a Grand Bargain in the Basin?” This two-and-a-half day, invitation-only event held in September 2019 brought together some of the top policymakers in the Colorado River Basin. Discussions included Upper and Lower Basin perspectives on the road to the 2026 guidelines, lessons learned from the 2007 Interim Guidelines, the U.S.-Mexico partnership on the river, achieving a vision for tribal water, and connections between science, policy and management of water resources and more. 

River Reports

Winter 2017-18 River Report
A Warmer Future and Increased Risk

Rising temperatures from climate change are having a noticeable effect on how much water is flowing down the Colorado River. Read the latest River Report to learn more about what’s happening, and how water managers are responding.

Western Water Magazine

The Colorado River: Living with Risk, Avoiding Curtailment
Fall 2017

This issue of Western Water discusses the challenges facing the Colorado River Basin resulting from persistent drought, climate change and an overallocated river, and how water managers and others are trying to face the future. 

River Reports

River Report Summer 2017

This printed issue of the Summer 2017 River Report delves into the successes and challenges of the Colorado River Pilot Conservation Program. The program was launched in 2014 as a collective effort by the federal government and major urban water suppliers to pay for water-saving measures strictly designed to create “system water” for the benefit of everyone.

Product

Colorado River Facts Slide Card

This card includes information about the Colorado River, who uses the river, how the river’s water is divided and other pertinent facts about this vital resource for the Southwest. Beautifully illustrated with color photographs.

Western Water Magazine

Two Countries, One River: Crafting a New Agreement
Fall 2016

This issue of Western Water examines the ongoing effort between the United States and Mexico to develop a new agreement to the 1944 Treaty that will continue the binational cooperation on constructing Colorado River infrastructure, storing water in Lake Mead and providing instream flows for the Colorado River Delta.

River Reports

River Report Winter 2016-2017

This printed issue of River Report, “Dealing with Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin,” examines the effort by the Upper Basin states to craft a drought contingency plan to avoid critical low-reservoir conditions at Lake Powell.

River Reports

Historic Drought 2000 to 2015: A Catalyst for Innovations
2015 Colorado River Symposium Proceedings

The written proceedings of the Foundation’s 2015 Colorado River Symposium, “Historic Drought 2000 to 2015: A Catalyst for Innovations.” This two-and-a-half day, invitation-only event held in September 2015 brought together some of the top policymakers in the Colorado River Basin.Speakers discussed everything from forging binational U.S.-Mexico agreements, financing innovations, climate change and drought contingency plans.

River Reports

KIDS: Discover the Colorado Watershed

For grades 8-12, this colorful 16-page booklet provides a fun, informative introduction to the Colorado River watershed. Learners play geography games, do salinity experiments, create hydrographs, use reading and drawing skills, and practice higher-level thinking. Topics include Colorado Basin cultures, history, art, hydrology, water management and conservation, and geography.

River Reports

River Report Summer 2016

This printed issue of River Report, “Bending the Curve: The Lower Basin Drought Contingency Proposal,” discusses the increasing potential for a shortage declaration in the Lower Basin and the efforts by Arizona, California and Nevada and the federal government to develop a plan to slow Lake Mead’s decline.

River Reports

River Report Winter 2015-2016

This printed issue of River Report, “Private Investment and Public Dollars: Paying for Colorado River Water,” discusses infrastructure improvements underway to increase the water supply reliability of the Colorado River.

Western Water Magazine

Historic Drought and the Colorado River: Today and Tomorrow
November/December 2015

This issue looks at the historic drought that has gripped the Colorado River Basin since 2000 and discusses the lessons learned, the continuing challenges and what the future might hold.

River Reports

River Report Summer 2015

This printed issue of River Report, “Reaching Reliable Supply on the Colorado River: The Moving Forward Report,” explores how the Colorado River Basin states and the Bureau of Reclamation are working to square a projected imbalance between supply and demand.

Western Water Magazine

The Next Steps of the Colorado River Basin Study
November/December 2014

This issue discusses the aspects of the 2012 Colorado River Basin Study’s workgroups and possible solutions to the river’s imbalance.

River Reports

An Era of New Partnerships on the Colorado River
2013 Symposium Proceedings

The written proceedings of the Foundation’s 2013 Colorado River Symposium, “An Era of New Partnerships on the Colorado River.”  This two-and-a-half day, invitation-only event held in September 2013 brought together some of the top policymakers in the Colorado River Basin. This 136-page, softbound book is a vital resource for universities, libraries and law schools, and a must-have for the serious Colorado River scholar. Bonus: the 2013 Symposium Proceedings includes a disk with the speaker PowerPoint presentations.