Hydrowonk Blog

Reclamation’s Lake Mead Elevation Forecasting Record

The Bureau of Reclamation and interested parties are at work assessing proposed triggers for imposing cutbacks in the delivery of Colorado River water…

Sep 17 • 

Rodney T. Smith

August 2025

Averting Collapse: How Colorado River Management Is Evolving to Meet a Drier Future

Answering NRDC’s Concerns about the Colorado River—Part 3 of 3

Aug 21 • 

Marta L. Casper

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Shortages and Cutbacks—Nearly Two Decades of Colorado River Management History

Answering NRDC’s Concerns about the Colorado River—Part 2 of 3

Aug 7 • 

Marta L. Casper

July 2025

Are Colorado River Water Supplies Being Wasted?

Answering NRDC’s Concerns about the Colorado River—Part 1 of 3

Jul 30 • 

Marta L. Casper

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April 2025

Hydrowonk Blog Has Moved

We are pleased to announce that Hydrowonk Blog has found a new home on Substack.

Apr 4 • 

Stratecon Inc.

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March 2025

Federal Funding of the Colorado River Basin in the DOGE Era

Channeling the 20th Century economist Joseph Schumpeter, the federal budget is experiencing “creative disruption” where innovation and technical…

Mar 20 • 

Rodney T. Smith

Hydrowonk’s Strategy for Addressing Arizona’s Colorado River Water Challenges

Voluntary Transfers with Owners of Arizona’s Senior Colorado River Water Rights

Mar 7 • 

Rodney T. Smith

November 2024

COVID-19 Economic Recovery and the Colorado River Basin: Part 5: Deconstructing the Impact of COVID-19 on each Colorado River Basin State

Hydrowonk breaks down the COVID-19 Economic Recovery for each Colorado River Basin state.

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Rodney T. Smith

COVID-19 Economic Recovery and the Colorado River Basin: Part 4: Evolution of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Role

Addressing the over-appropriation of the Colorado River requires the Bureau of Reclamation to evolve in its role as “watermaster.” Understandably, the…

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Rodney T. Smith

COVID-19 Economic Recovery and the Colorado River Basin: Part 3: Rethinking the Over-Appropriated Colorado River

The historical narrative of the Colorado River focuses on how to address the rapid economic development in the Lower Basin relative to the pace of…

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Rodney T. Smith

COVID-19 Economic Recovery and the Colorado River Basin: Part 2: COVID-19 and the Economies of the Colorado River Basin States

How did the Colorado River Basin states’ economic recovery from COVID-19 perform?

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Rodney T. Smith

COVID-19 Economic Recovery and the Colorado River Basin: Part 1: The Nature of the National Economic Recovery

Almost five years ago, the US economy was on the verge of collapse.

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Rodney T. Smith