Colorado

Crazy or genius? A nuclear-powered solution to the West’s water crisis

Published

3 weeks ago

March 15, 2026

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Crazy or genius? A nuclear-powered solution to the West’s water crisis

PAGE, Arizona ‒ In the middle of the desert sits a sign: “Caution docks may be slippery.”

They are not.

In fact, there’s not a drop of water to be seen at Antelope Point Marina, which once sat near the shore of Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir. The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water.

Instead of reflecting the bright blue Arizona sky near the Four Corners region of the Southwest, the lake’s water level reflects the dire reality that the Colorado River is running out of water. And the dock with the sign dangles off a 100-foot cliff, waiting for a refill that climatologists say will likely never come.

“Things are really, really rough on the Colorado River. It’s ugly,” said Eric Balken, the executive director of the Glen Canyon Institute. “Everybody is at a place right now where we’re all asking, ‘what the heck happens now? What are we doing?’”

Now, a public lands access group has proposed an eye-poppingly ambitious plan to build eight massive desalination plants off the California coastline, turning ocean water into fresh for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. To meet the energy demand, the plants might have to be powered with nuclear reactors.

Although desalination plants are widely used in the Middle East, they consume huge amounts of electricity to generate a relatively small amount of water. No country has ever tried something on this scale before.

The Colorado River basin ‒ and the seven states that depend on the river for water ‒ is facing significant shortfalls this summer following an unusually hot and dry winter. The plan’s authors at the Idaho-based BlueRibbon Coalition say their $40 billion proposal offers a viable long-term solution at a time when President Donald Trump is slashing environment-based regulatory delays and encouraging the country to think big.

“At some point we’re going to hit a hard reality there’s no more water in the Colorado River,” said Ben Burr, the coalition’s executive director. “You can only squeeze so much more juice out of it.”

Some critics say the plan is both utterly unaffordable and potentially catastrophic for the environment.

The BlueRibbon Coalition is undeterred, deliberately invoking the massive federal efforts that built the Glen Canyon and Hoover dams and filled Lake Powell and Lake Mead with Colorado River water. Those reservoir projects allowed the United States to flourish in Arizona, Nevada and California, supercharging economic growth, powering cities and turning dusty desert into fertile farmland.

The group’s plan is the newest ambitious idea to solve western water woes. Other proposals floated over the decades included towing icebergs from Alaska or Antarctica, diverting rivers from the rainy Pacific Northwest or even piping Great Lakes water thousands of miles west across the Continental Divide.

Peter Goble, the assistant state climatologist for Colorado, said the ongoing drought is increasing pressure on western states to find a solution. The West is warming faster than the country overall, which ultimately means even less water available for farmers, businesses and residents, he said.

“There’s no way to look at the numbers and think the Colorado River is doing well right now,” Goble said. “In a world that’s warmer, all signs point to droughts that will be more intense and more frequent.”

Drought, squabbles among states threaten river’s future

Seven states ‒ Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming ‒ collaboratively manage and use the Colorado River.

But the amount of water flowing downstream has been dropping due to a long-term drought at the same time, causing squabbles among the states over who gets how much for farming, drinking and industrial uses. And a certain amount of water must constantly flow out of the two dams so they can produce power for millions of households and businesses. Mexico and Native American tribes also have water-use rights and have a say in the management.

Although it’s at the end of the river, California legally has the right to use more water than any of the other states, primarily to grow alfalfa to feed cattle. And although he has not endorsed this specific plan, California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a Feb. 11 letter to fellow Colorado River governors suggested that desalination and other “advanced technologies” may ultimately be necessary. Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment specifically on the BlueRibbon plan.

“We welcome shared investments in infrastructure, from water reuse to desalination, that can reduce pressure on precious water supplies in Lake Powell and Lake Mead,” Newsom wrote. “Our reality is clear. We need to manage with less rain and snow to provide water for our communities and farms each year. It is a shared reality that requires a shared solution.”

Burr said the plants could generate 7 million acre-feet of water. An acre foot of water, which is 325,851 gallons, is equivalent to about what two or three U.S. homes use annually. In comparison, growing a single acre of alfalfa consumes as much as 6 acre-feet of water each year, according to University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

What’s in the $40 billion plan?

The BlueRibbon plan envisions:

Eight large desalination plants off the coast of California and Mexico, powered potentially by small nuclear generators of the kind championed by the White House. Electricity could also come from solar or wind farms, although President Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to kill such projects. Building the plants would cost about $40 billion, Burr estimated.
The plants would potentially be built in the Sea of Cortez and in federal enclaves on California’s Pacific coast. Doing so would limit environmental roadblocks, speeding their construction. Desalination plants work by removing salt from ocean water, creating extra-salty water that would have to be diluted before being dumped back into the ocean, otherwise it might be toxic to aquatic life.
Fresh water would be pumped at least 100 miles inland to reach California’s Imperial Valley, a vast desert that today is irrigated with Colorado River water to grow crops from alfalfa to lettuce and onions. The “new” water would allow California to give up some of its Colorado River allocations to other states to use.

Burr said he believes the plan, which could be privately or publicly funded, is being offered at the right time. He said the pendulum against over-regulation and environmentalism is swinging back in favor of ordinary Americans and business owners, and against the environmental groups that would otherwise have prevented the construction of Lake Powell or Lake Mead.

The BlueRibbon group’s supporters include companies that would benefit from increased water levels in Lake Powell, and that have fought to maintain higher water levels.

“I think you’re seeing that we’re realizing as a country we have to be building real infrastructure and not just jobs programs for environmental lawyers,” Burr said. “We need a new real water system.”

Throwing seawater at the problem: ‘That’s just crazy,’ one expert warns

Aaron Weiss, the deputy director of the Denver-based Center for Western Priorities, considers the BlueRibbon plan laughable. The center advocates for increased land and water conservation across the West, but is nonpartisan.

Weiss said the infrastructure necessary to move fresh water from the coast back uphill for farmers would be staggeringly expensive, likely adding tens of billons of dollars to the overall cost.

“Their solution to the problem is throw seawater at it. And that’s just crazy,” Weiss said. “No one has ever considered desalinating water on this scale. It’s not audacious. It’s just stupid. Just based on what we know that it costs to desalinate water and move water, there’s no way $40 billion is anywhere close to the actual price tag.”

Among other countries, Israel depends heavily on desalination to meet its drinking and farm water needs. But that also consumes about 5% of the country’s overall electricity, according to a study by Tel Aviv University.

Weiss said there’s also significant uncertainty on how the desalination plants would handle the extra-salty water created by the process. Israel’s plants mix that water back into the Mediterranean, where it’s diluted enough to not endanger aquatic life.

Like Burr, Weiss said the low snowpack levels across the West this winter are putting pressure on states to find some kind of solution. During the Biden presidency, the federal government paid farmers billions of dollars to stop growing crops like alfalfa, freeing up water for other uses. That funding was temporary, however, and the Trump administration has been pushing states to find a longer-term solution.

Federal forecasters are warning this could be one of the worst years on record for Lake Powell water levels, due to the poor snowpack and warm winter. As of mid-March, the lake’s surface stood at 3,529 feet above sea level, down from 3,587 feet in 2024, its most recent high. Some forecasters worry the lake could lose so much water this year that it will reach what’s known as “power pool,” the minimum level necessary to continue generating hydroelectricity.

The lake reached its highest-ever level of 3,708 feet above sea level in 1983, and has never been full since. A white “bathtub ring” remains visible from that high-water mark.

Forcing farmers to use less water could raise food costs for Americans, although some environmental groups say the solution is to grow less alfalfa, which is often sold to China, Japan and Saudia Arabia for their herds, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources service. Burr said it’s silly to pay farmers not to grow crops – wouldn’t that money be better spent creating more water to use? he asked.

Weiss, however, said conservation is the fastest, easiest way to reduce water use. He said the BlueRibbon plan would take decades to complete ‒ and the Colorado River is in crisis now.

“At the end of the day, basic physics takes over,” Weiss said. “Our only solution is to conserve our way out of this aggressively.”

Balken, who runs the Glen Canyon Institute, has been pushing a plan to completely remove the 710-foot-tall Glen Canyon dam, or at least modify it so all the water in Lake Powell can flow downstream into Lake Mead. The institute ultimately wants to see the Colorado River returned to its natural state through the Glen Canyon.

“Given the low snowpack and given the heatwave that’s about to zap the snowpack, we’re probably looking at one of the worst runoffs in history, at one of the worst times. It’s almost certain we will see some sort of crash soon at Lake Powell,” Balken said. “This may be unprecedented, but it is the most predictable disaster of all time. We have known this moment has been coming for 20 years.”

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Colorado

Where to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Sunday, April 5

Published

5 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Sunday, April 5

The Philadelphia Phillies (5-3) will try to complete a three-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies (2-6). The Phillies won the series’ first two games by limiting the Rockies to a single run in each. Philadelphia’s Taijuan Walker is scheduled to start against Colorado’s Tomoyuki Sugano.

How to Watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies

Time: 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT
Where: Coors Field, Denver
TV Channels: Rockies.TV, NBCSP+

Team records

Philadelphia Phillies: 5-3 (No. 3 in NL East)
Colorado Rockies: 2-6 (No. 5 in NL West)

Odds

Spread: Colorado Rockies +1.5
Moneyline: Colorado Rockies +145 / Philadelphia Phillies -175

Starting pitchers

Philadelphia Phillies: Taijuan Walker (0-1, ERA: 11.57, K: 2, WHIP: 2.79)
Colorado Rockies: Tomoyuki Sugano (0-0, ERA: 1.93, K: 4, WHIP: 0.86)

Weather: 63°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 50,144 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

Weather: 63°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 50,144 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Colorado

Hooters Colorado Shoots Bikini Calendar Photos In The Mountains & Refuses To Die, Nacho Hat & Is Nike Dead?

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Hooters Colorado Shoots Bikini Calendar Photos In The Mountains & Refuses To Die, Nacho Hat & Is Nike Dead?

Plus: The colors are starting to pop from Augusta National.

PublishedApril 4, 2026 9:00 AM EDT•UpdatedApril 4, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Quick observations — in no particular order — from Florida while Mrs. Screencaps packs up the kids this Saturday morning for the long journey back to rainy Ohio

Our kids must’ve thrown a pool ball or pool football 3,000 times on this trip. If they end up needing Tommy John surgery in June, it was due to this trip.
We spent the last three days in Orlando and not once did the boys ask if we could go to a Disney or Universal property. At about $900 for a Disney park and $1,000 for Universal, it was a big relief. There’s a clear dilemma right now based on the prices: Do modern middle-class families have the money to blow on one day at these parks? Yes, but at some point, as in our case, you have to take a stand financially. The parks have reached the tipping point. We cannot be the only family in this situation. We saw my cousin this week in Florida, and she was talking about how her and her husband bought an acre of land in a beautiful part of Michigan for $1,800 last year. Meanwhile, Disney can suck a family dry for $1,300 after entrance, parking and food in a matter of hours. I vote for buying land. The same can be said for Mrs. Screencaps. My ears perked up when she showed interest in picking up some land. That was something I haven’t heard out of her before.
Like many generations before me, I’m going to miss this weather when we hit the Ohio River, and it’s instantly 54, rainy and cloudy.
However, I don’t know how people in Florida deal with highway traffic, or traffic in general for trips to grocery stores. I get it when I see people on Twitter parroting the line, “We’re full. No northerners are allowed in.”
Did I mention how nice it was to not check email, Slack messages or DMs? So relaxing. I sat there in a cabana the last two days at the pool listening to music, watching the boys throw the football and never once did I wonder what people were sending me on social media or via email.
Publix needs to figure out its Greek pasta salad. What they’re selling IS NOT Greek pasta salad.
Gas was $4.29 at the final stop on I-75 before you go across the Everglades. It was one of the first questions my dad asked me when we rolled into his place just off Marco Island on Monday. It was officially on his mind.
I hope our boys understand how fortunate they are to have two things in their lives: (1.) a grandfather who keeps his boat in a Marco Island boat house where they drop it in the water and have it ready for you when you pull up to the dock, and (2.) a grandmother who has a beautiful 9-hole golf course at her trailer park. Boys, those are the amenities that make these trips special, let me tell you. We might not have dropped $1,300 at Disney, but we had some fun.
Speaking of golf, Screencaps Jr. had his first official 9-hole round of golf at my mom’s place and it was a special father-son moment. There I was having to teach him everything about golf etiquette, what club to use and how to handle himself on a green. As I told the text group, now I know why Diesel gets so emotional over moments with his own boys. Last Saturday, I had one of those moments with Screencaps Jr. On the Par 3 course, he had a couple of blowup holes, a couple of doubles and even a bogey. You better believe I made him count every stroke. Start them young. If they learn to shave strokes at 13, just think of how they’ll keep score at 33.
We just happened to drive by the strip-mall Hooters in Kissimmee the other night and there was one lone middle-aged guy, maybe 58, sitting at the outdoor bar on a pretty pleasant Thursday night. I don’t want the iconic brand to die, but young, red-blooded men just aren’t showing up for a beer and wings. It’s sad, but it’s the world we’re living in.

— Keith in Indian Rocks Beach writes:

Hey Joe, if you need a place to park to take the kids to the beach, hit me up.

Kinsey:

Next time, Keith. I was so in the moment and ignoring my work email that I just saw this — a week later.

I looked up Keith’s address. He’s definitely right on the water.

— Chuck writes:

I dont see many Kinseys out there. Enjoy your vacation. Good luck to you and Outkick.

Kinsey:

From one Kinsey to another, thanks for the email, Chuck. I’ve enjoyed this vacation. Now it’s time to get home and get rolling on Spring, the mowing season, baseball season, track season and planting season for Mrs. Screencaps.

Is Nike about to get Wendy’s’d?

While I was ignoring the world in Florida, Nike stock was dropping like a rock. Of course the LIBS say this has nothing to do with the DEIs inside Nike joining forces with Kap or all the Alphabet Mafia messaging the company has pounded for years.

And don’t forget about how Nike promoted Lizzo-sized mannequins in 2022 only to have Lizzo turn her back on the fatty lifestyle.

Nike marketing chose a path. Combine that with changing tastes in culture and you have a brand in a free-fall.

Masters kits are arriving

— Mark writes:

Look what just showed up!! I’m a 60 year old man acting like a teenager right now! Food box arrives tomorrow!!

Kinsey:

Enjoy those drink cups, Mark. Those are about to become the best drink cups in your cabinet. Cherish them. Don’t let your friends walk off with them.

######################

That is it this morning. I know it’s a short one, but Mrs. Screencaps is ready to roll. The 3.5L V6 Honda Odyssey is ready to roll. We have a 13-hour day in front of us. It’s time to get back to reality.

I’ll see you guys again on Monday.

Have a great weekend and Happy Easter.

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Colorado

Colorado fire department to break ground on new station to accommodate community growth

Published

2 days ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Colorado fire department to break ground on new station to accommodate community growth

One community in Douglas County is preparing to break ground on a new fire station.

Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department’s Station 156 will be located in the northeast portion of town.

CBS

The new station will serve Cobblestone Ranch and Terrain, two growing subdivisions. It will include a 13,000-square-foot fire station and a 13,000-square-foot logistics center.

“When I started 1986, we had two fire stations,” Fire Chief Norris Croom told CBS Colorado. “We were an all-volunteer department.”

In the 40 years Croom has been with the fire department, a lot has changed.

“7,500 people were in town,” Croom said. “Right now, we’re at about 87,000 people, and this will be our sixth fire station.”

Croom is presently the chief of a fire department that’s four times bigger and serves a much larger community.

“Just mind boggling that it’s grown so fast,” said Judy Barnett, who lives in the Castle Oaks community.

For 30 years, Barnett has also watched the town grow from her backyard.

“Just overnight, you look out, and there’s another house,” Barnett said.

Her rural home in northeast Castle Rock is getting more suburban, with the addition of communities like Cobblestone Ranch and Terrain.

“The Terrain pretty much surrounds us on the west side,” Barnett said.

Croom says his department is being stretched thin in those areas.

“We’re seeing response times as long as 14 to 15 minutes,” Croom explained.

But, soon, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue will break ground on a solution, a new fire station on Castle Oaks Drive.

“We believe that we’ll be able to cut those response times in more than half,” Croom said.

Fleet maintenance work is done at Castle Rock’s public safety training facility, but that work will soon have a new home. A logistics center will be built along with the new fire station.

Croom says the logistics center will provide a centralized location for equipment and space for maintenance work.

“As far as our equipment is concerned, we’ve got it stored throughout all of our different stations,” Croom said. “So, if you need hazmat equipment, you might have to go to Station 5. If you need wildland equipment, you might have to go to this station. We’ll be able to take all of that out of those stations and consolidate it into one central location.”

The total cost of the facility is $21.5 million. It’s being paid for with TABOR timeout dollars, a general fund loan, capital impact fees and certificates of participation. Twelve firefighters will be needed to staff the new station. Croom says the money to hire more firefighters comes from a ballot measure passed by Castle Rock voters in 2024.

“We do worry about fires as of lately. We’re surrounded by scrub oak,” Barnett said. “As dry as it is, it, you know, and it wouldn’t take much.”

The new Station 156 is just minutes from Barnett’s home, and will serve her community, as well as Terrain and Cobblestone Ranch.

“I think that’s great because, of course with all the growth around here, there’s a lot more chance of having a fire,” Barnett said. “The hard thing about growth is all the people, but then that good thing is that we get those kind of amenities.”

The station will break ground next week, and it’s expected to be operational in 2027.

“As the town continues to grow and as the community continues to grow, us being able to keep up with that growth is significant,” Croom said.

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