As a deadline approaches, Colorado River states are still far apart on water sharing
Ahead of a deadline next week, the seven states that share the Colorado River have revealed competing plans for how the river should be managed in the future. They’re split into two factions, with the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming on one side, and their Lower Basin counterparts—California, Arizona and Nevada—on the other. Those two camps have been at odds over water management many times over the past century. Now, with climate change shrinking the Colorado River’s supply, they’re under intense pressure to rein in demand. While the current guidelines for sharing the river don’t expire until 2026, the Biden Administration set a mid-March deadline for proposals for new guideline, in part because the upcoming election in November could bring a change of presidential administration that could complicate the implementation of new rules.
Related articles:
- KTNV – Las Vegas: Environmental group to submit proposal on Colorado River’s future
- Utah State University: Holding Course - February brings more of the same for basin storage
- Newsweek: Opinion - Thirst for change—the imperative to preserve the Colorado River