Western US states fail to agree on plan to manage Colorado River before federal deadline | Water

State negotiators, mired in an impasse over how to manage the imperiled Colorado River, failed to agree on a plan before a federal deadline Tuesday, pushing deliberations deeper into uncertain territory.

Stakeholders have spent months working to iron out disagreements over how to distribute water from this vast basin — which supplies about 40 million people in seven states, 5.5 million acres of farmland, dozens of tribes and parts of Mexico — as resources become increasingly scarce.

Long-term overexploitation and the growing consequences of the climate crisis have been a one-two punch that has left the system in crisis.

Enough progress has been made to warrant an extension, according to a joint statement released by federal officials and representatives from the seven Western states. But the discussions – and the deadline for them – were set on an urgent timetable; the current guidelines expire and a new finalized agreement must be in place by October 2026, the start of the 2027 water year.

Time is of the essence to plan several steps necessary to implement a plan, including public participation and environmental analysis. Final details are expected by February 2026.

“There are external factors that make this deadline real,” said Anne Castle, a water policy expert and former chair of the Upper Colorado River Commission. “It is unfortunate for all water users in the Colorado River Basin that the states were unable to reach agreement on the next set of river operating guidelines.”

It is unclear whether a new deadline has been set or how the discussions will take place. If negotiators fail to come up with a plan, there’s still a chance the federal government could step in, which experts say could lead to litigation and more delays.

“The urgency for the seven states in the Colorado River Basin to reach a consensus agreement has never been clearer,” Scott Cameron, the Interior Department’s acting assistant secretary for water and science, said in a statement released in August, alongside a 24-month federal study that highlighted the dire effects left by an unprecedented drought in the basin.

“The health of the Colorado River system and the livelihoods that depend on it depend on our ability to collaborate effectively and develop forward-thinking solutions that prioritize conservation, efficiency and resilience,” he added.

But since being tasked by federal officials in June to present a broad plan by Nov. 11, the closed-door discussions have been marked by tension. Key questions, including details on the terms of a new deal, how to measure shortages and conservation efforts, and who would bear the brunt of much-needed cuts, have stalled consensus. The upper basin states – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico – were squeezed against the lower basin – California, Arizona and Nevada.

“They had to come to an agreement that, almost by definition, will result in hardship for some of these water users,” Castle said. “That was the crux of the problem.”

Water from the mighty 2,450-mile river that winds through the western United States has been used to raise thriving cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas and transform arid desert landscapes into lush breadbaskets. Its flows produce thirsty crops, like alfalfa and hay, used as livestock feed. Around 80% of the supply is intended for agriculture.

Overexploitation totaled about 3.5 million acre-feet per year, an amount equal to more than a quarter of the river’s average annual flow. An acre-foot, a unit of measurement for the amount that can cover a football field a foot deep and used for large quantities of water, is equivalent to about 326,000 gallons, or enough to supply about three families for a year.

The ecosystems of the river banks have paid a heavy price. Fourteen native fish species are endangered or threatened. The once-lush wetlands of the Mexico River Delta have been dried up for decades. California’s Salton Sea, a saline lake fed by the river, has become toxic due to drought.

Meanwhile, high temperatures pushed moisture out of the basin. The reduction in mountain snow cover leads to less melting year after year, because increased evaporation takes a greater part. The river has lost more than 10 billion gallons of water in the last two decades alone. The two largest reservoirs are expected to reach historic low levels over the next two years.

“There is not enough water to supply all the uses we make of it. » » said Chateau. She added that even without a deal, users will still be forced to reduce their spending. “We know that water consumption needs to be reduced – and significantly reduced. The question is how.”

If it comes down to letting the Bureau of Reclamation decide — or worse, a judge, whether the issues are litigated — Castle said the outcome would be worse for everyone. A compromise – which happens quickly – is essential.

“They all have to hold hands to jump into the pool together.”