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New 10-Year Management Framework for Colorado River on the Horizon
The U.S. federal government announced it will implement a new 10-year management framework for the Colorado River by the end of summer if the seven states sharing the river fail to reach an agreement. Water scarcity...
The U.S. federal government is preparing to implement a new 10-year operational framework for the Colorado River by the end of summer if the seven states sharing the river cannot reach a consensus. The announcement comes amid the worst recorded water year in the river basin.
Scott Cameron, acting commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, said the decision was announced this week at a water conference in Boulder, Colorado. Cameron emphasized that the current guidance framework expires at the end of September, so new rules must be in effect by October 1.
Negotiations Reach a Deep Impasse
Talks between the upper basin states—Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico—and the lower basin states—Arizona, California, and Nevada—have long been deadlocked. The states also failed to meet deadlines in November and February.
Cameron explained that the federal government’s preferred option is a 10-year framework, with the plan to be reassessed every two years. This approach would allow for operational decisions to be made at shorter intervals to manage water under extraordinary conditions in the region.
The official noted that while a long-term agreement is desired, the seven states have struggled even to reach a two-year consensus, making the implementation of a 10-year framework a more realistic option for now.
River Water Levels at Historic Lows
The Colorado River supplies water to about 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico and irrigates over 5 million acres of farmland. However, flow in the basin has decreased by about one-third over the past century, while demand has outpaced supply.
Recent studies indicate that another dry winter could bring Lakes Mead and Powell close to drying up. Particularly in the fall, water levels in Lake Powell could drop enough to halt hydroelectric power generation at Glen Canyon Dam.
If water levels fall below this threshold, water can only flow through four lower outlet works at the dam. However, federal studies show that prolonged use of these outlets could damage the dam. If levels drop further, the lake could approach a "dead pool" stage where the dam can no longer release water downstream.
States, Tribes, and Mexico Not at the Same Table
The federal official said the plan will be reviewed every two years and adjusted according to the basin’s hydrological conditions. However, Colorado’s negotiator Becky Mitchell expressed concerns that negotiating every two years would be very difficult and that constant talks would create funding and planning uncertainties for communities and projects.
Mitchell warned that prolonged negotiations could cause the upper and lower basins to become more entrenched in their legal interpretations, potentially leading to lengthy lawsuits among states, the federal government, and water users. She noted that courts do not restore water and do not eliminate uncertainty.
John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, also said that making a new plan every two years is not a good solution. He noted that if no agreement is reached, lawsuits could be filed, but management rules will still be needed during that process.
The Colorado River basin is governed by a complex set of agreements and legal regulations spanning over a century. Entsminger stated that if the seven states cannot agree on the "Law of the River," other institutions—likely courts or Congress—will have to make the final decision.
Carlos de la Parra, who previously advised Mexico in water negotiations, compared the current situation to being invited to a house where the meal is not ready because the hosts are arguing among themselves, leaving the guest waiting.
Tribes Seek Stronger Representation
U.S. tribes dependent on the Colorado River are involved in the process as sovereign communities but have limited participation in current negotiations. Amelia Flores, chair of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, emphasized that full and active tribal participation is essential for a lasting and genuine solution.
Flores reminded that tribes hold more than a quarter of the basin’s registered water rights. Excluding tribes from the process threatens their sovereignty and existence.
She stressed that a living and functioning Colorado River ecosystem is as vital as air and that the river’s future is not just a technical sharing issue but a matter of life’s source.
Stephen Roe Lewis, manager of the Gila River Indian Community, also expressed serious concerns about the proposed framework. As disputes over the river deepen, the federal government’s 10-year plan could shape the direction of negotiations in the region.
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