Wyoming’s federal delegation has filed legislation to restore millions of dollars to pay state irrigators in the Colorado River Basin for conserving water. Bills filed in the U.S. Senate and House would restore the System Conservation Pilot Program that Congress ended in December. The program contracted to pay $8.3 million in 2023 to 21 entities in Wyoming. The conservation effort aims to supply more water to downstream states without harming Wyoming water users. Headwater upper-basin states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico favor voluntary paid-for conservation over uncompensated reductions proposed by California, Nevada and Arizona.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• KNAU (Flagstaff, Ariz.): Colorado River meeting canceled by the Trump Administration
• Economic Currents: Blog: Excerpts from recent Colorado Basin water supply forecast discussion plus additional information that includes New Mexico
• Wyoming Public Media: Wyoming’s cloud seeding program could be nixed in legislature
• Vail Daily (Colo.): Watching Eagle County streamflow and water quality is a complicated job, and gets more expensive every year
• The Colorado Sun (Denver): Coloradans eye floating solar panels to boost water supplies
• The Denver Post (Colo.): Trump public lands policy forces new plan for Colorado’s Dolores River
• The Denver Post (Colo.): Opinion: The Dolores River lands are important for my tribe, please protect them
• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Arizona’s water director wants a fight over growth? He’s getting it
• The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.): Durango’s ‘Western Water Girl’ brings Colorado River issues to TikTok
• The Land Desk: Blog: Friday mish-mash