Water in the West: info & drone photos
"Thousands of people have lived without love, none without water" - Auden
As someone who wants to help people and organizations spread awareness of water usage, my travels include taking pictures of rivers, water towers, recreational water use and related topics. They are posted on this page. (Water-conservation groups: Feel free to use any of these pictures for your communications, e-newsletters and posts. All is request is that you say "photo courtesy of Don Ireland, www.donsdronesofdenver.com. If you would like to hire me to do drone work for your organization, please contact me.)
Water originating in Colorado is used daily by 40 million people west of the Mississippi River to California. With growing population and climate changes, water is of growing concern for those who live here. Unfortunately, many people do not think about the water they use, how far it travels to reach their faucet nor how to practice efficiency or conservation.
A big part of my life the past decade is to spread the word and educate people about the importance of their relationship with water. In 2015, I received the Colorado WaterWise organization's Liz Gardener Conservation Award, the first time someone who wasn't a water-related professional was presented with the honor. Over recent years, I have spoken to thousands about water conservation throughout the state and have penned water-related articles for several publications. (You can read one on this site if you look at the amazing Sterling Ranch drone photos.)
In some areas, clean water is sold by the gallon at vending machines (BYOB- bring your own bottle).
The mighty Colorado River: lifeblood to millions
Panoramic photo of the Grand River Diversion along I-70 in Colorado's western slope
Years back, the Colorado was called the Grand River. Hence the city of Grand Junction was named because of the river running through it.
Rivers in Colorado...
The Rio Grande River originates in southern Colorado and serves people in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.
The Arkansas River is a hotspot for rafters in the summer near Buena Vista and Salida, CO. It water eventually reaches the Mississippi after running through Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The South Platte River runs through Denver. It later joins the North Platte and travels through Colorado and Nebraska, eventually joining the Missouri River. In downtown Denver, the popular Confluence Park is where Cherry Creek connects with the South Platte.
Water towers in the West: Some drab, some fab!
- Panoramic view of water tower in Englewood, Arapahoe County