In 2022, as the Colorado River Water Pact celebrated its 100th anniversary, an AP reporting collaboration examined the impact of water use in the region. The package featured 11 text stories, including from all seven states in the Colorado Basin plus Mexico and tribal lands. Each story features photos and data-driven animations. Accompanying videos show how the Colorado River got to this point and on how tribes are fighting for water rights.
Partner media outlets in the West included The Colorado Sun, The Albuquerque Journal, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Arizona Daily Star and The Nevada Independent and the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The series drew the attention of water managers. AP was invited to speak about the coverage at the Colorado River Water Users Association, an annual gathering of policymakers and other river stakeholders. AP also produced a “Localize it” guide, which provides context, data, and tips to help media localize national stories for their own audiences. To date, it has been downloaded 500 times.
A collaborative series on the 100th anniversary of the historic Colorado River Compact. Media worked together to explore the pressures on the river in 2022.
- 11 text stories, from all 7 states in the Colorado River Basin, Mexico and tribal lands.
- 1,000+ media outlet pickups.
- Photos, videos and data-driven animations for each stories.
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