A Native American tribe with a powerful water claim had an ultimatum for the Trump administration: Release money to protect the Colorado River — or fight over the future of the most important river in the West. Uncharacteristically, the Trump administration backed down. The Interior Department released $105 million eight days later to repay the tribe for work it had done to line leaky canals and take other measures to protect a waterway that supports farms and cities in seven states. It was a victory for Arizona’s Gila River Indian Community. … But the episode last month, previously unreported, underscores the alarm that Western officials are feeling over the Trump administration’s freeze of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for the waterway. 

Other Colorado River news:

• Politico: Senators look to finalize $5B tribal water rights deal
• The Colorado Sun (Denver): Southern Ute plans for $19M upgrade to crumbling water system get caught in Trump funding freeze
• Native News Online: 25th Navajo Nation Council celebrates introduction of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights settlement before Congress
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.): Feds blasted for not protecting infrastructure at Arizona’s Glen Canyon dam
• E&E News by Politico: Bill tries to balance hydropower with curbs on invasive fish
• E&E News by Politico: Colorado River states press Interior to restart process on cuts
• Aspen Public Radio: Forecasters say coming winter storms won’t be enough to prevent drought when runoff season starts