Governance in the Colorado River Basin Could a new commission improve management of the river? The notion of forming an official stakeholder commission to better govern intricate Colorado River issues is a subject that has been raised throughout the basin. In gist, such a commission would be basin-wide. But who would comprise the group and to what extent would they have power are two of the big unknowns in the discussions. Some stakeholders not traditionally at the table when decisions affecting the Colorado River are made see a new commission as a way to more even distribute political power on the river. Others see a new commission as all but impossible to form due to the long history of existing governance. This issue of River Report profiles a history of governance on the Colorado, including the role of the Secretary, and highlights some of the issues surrounding the potential for forming a new commission.