The Colorado River from the air

For decades the River has been overallocated. There has long been more water on paper than there is in reality. The infamous 1922 Colorado River Compact made key mistakes from it’s inception. Now, in 2026 the seven basin states, 30 tribes, and two countries are in a stalemate to figure out how to manage a dwindling water supply we all depend on.
In fall of 2025 my employer,  Western Resource Advocates, partnered with the non-profit Lighthawk to document the River from the air.

Lighthawk specializes in getting environmental groups access to the air for all kinds of conservation related projects from protecting wildlife to water. 

I was assigned to document the river from the air. It was my first time seeing the River from the air. I had never been to Grand Canyon before this trip.

These are the results.