Water hauling is the new chore no rancher asked for

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Adrienne Marshall contributed to this article about how hauling water across rugged landscapes has become a daily chore for many ranchers in the U.S. Rockies. They historically relied on snowmelt to sustain stock ponds, springs and creeks for livestock to drink throughout the summer, but this year’s snowpack was the worst on record.  July 25, 2026.