Drought in Colorado isn’t abstract—it’s shaping decisions right now, from headwater streams to major reservoirs. And this year, the signals are hard to ignore. At the same time, conversations about water are tightening. There’s more concern and more sensitivity—especially around anything tied to water availability. That’s exactly why it matters how we talk about ecological drought . This isn’t a new issue. It’s a clearer, science-based way to describe what’s already happening—across rivers, landscapes, and communities. A System Under Stress The Colorado River Basin is entering this water year under extreme hydrologic pressure . Snowpack across the Upper Basin has dropped to record or near-record lows. By early April, snow water equivalent in many areas fell to a fraction of normal, and snow cover reached the lowest levels observed in the satellite record. At the same time, this winter ranked among the warmest on record —reducing snow accumulation, accelerating melt, and increasing evaporative losses.…