Drought

Keith Gido researches freshwater fish communities and how environmental changes reshape aquatic ecosystems. He says dams can make it more difficult for native fish to survive drought.

Researchers found only a small portion of rivers may be able to sustain freshwater biodiversity as the climate warms. The headwaters of the Colorado River system is among the more resilient areas.

California and the Great Basin, which includes much of Utah, had especially strong connections. Runoff conditions and soil moisture were synchronized two-thirds of the time.

Strong El Niño conditions could last through the winter, bringing Utah more moisture. It's still unclear if the rain will fall where it's most needed — and if it will be enough to combat drought.

Some reservoirs have lost more than one-quarter of their original storage capacity. The Colorado River basin is one of the hardest hit, especially because of the West's drier climate.

A federal plan for the Colorado River means big water cuts for Arizona, with the Phoenix and Tucson areas hit hard. City leaders say they can keep taps flowing, but solutions will be expensive.

El Niño is expected to be strong this year, possibly the strongest on record. It's forecasted to give parts of Utah above-normal precipitation, but it's still a toss-up in northern Utah.

Environmental groups petitioned against Project Jupiter, alleging a lack of due process. The state's Supreme Court paused a well water permit and proposed air quality permit for the project.

That means the fire has been completely surrounded and is unlikely to grow larger. In other news, Lake Powell's ferry could close for good after years of issues with low water levels.

A poor snow year has led to low water levels for rivers in the West, while hot weather pushes water temperatures up. That's bad news for both fish and river recreators.