States Dependent on Colorado River Miss New Consensus Deadline

The seven Western states reliant on the Colorado River have once again failed to meet a crucial deadline to formulate a plan addressing the ongoing record drought and severe water shortages. This marks the second missed deadline, raising concerns about the future of water management in the region.

In response to the situation, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo issued a joint statement urging the Upper Basin states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—to make more concessions. The governors emphasized the importance of the Colorado River, stating, “The Colorado River is essential to our communities and economies, and our states have conserved large volumes of water in recent years to stabilize the basin’s water supplies for years to come.” They reiterated their firm stance that all seven basin states must share the responsibility of conservation.

As part of their commitment to addressing the crisis, Arizona, California, and Nevada have proposed reductions in their Colorado River allocations: 27%, 10%, and 17%, respectively. This collaborative effort highlights the urgency of the situation.

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, who played a pivotal role in negotiating a contingency plan for the river in 2019, described the current conditions in the Colorado Basin as “dire.” He pointed to the state’s low snowpack as a significant concern. “If we don’t address this problem together—head-on and fast—our communities, farms, and economies will suffer,” Hickenlooper stated. He emphasized that litigation would not resolve the long-term challenges posed by aridification.

John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, also voiced his frustration regarding the lack of progress. He noted, “The actions we have taken over the past two-plus decades are less about raising Lake Mead’s elevation than they are about protecting ourselves if things go from bad to worse.”

The states previously allowed a November deadline set by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to pass without a strategy to address impending water shortages, as current guidelines are set to expire this year. Over 40 million people across these states, along with Mexico and Native American tribes, depend on Colorado River water, which is vital for agriculture, drinking water, and electricity for millions of homes and businesses.

Major cities such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles are significant consumers of this precious resource. Chronic overuse, coupled with drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change, has further diminished water flows in the river.

The allocation and conservation of water, particularly during dry spells, have been central to agreements among the states for decades. The original 1922 Colorado River Compact was based on water amounts that are no longer available, especially in light of the ongoing long-term drought.

Negotiations among the states have been ongoing for over two years. If a consensus cannot be reached, the federal government may intervene and create a plan that could leave all parties dissatisfied, potentially leading to litigation.

Recent scientific findings indicate that snow cover and snow depth in the West are at their lowest levels in decades. Some regions have experienced their warmest December through early February on record. Typically, snow cover during this time spans approximately 460,000 square miles—an area comparable to California, Utah, Idaho, and Montana combined. However, this year, it has shrunk to about 155,000 square miles, roughly the size of California alone, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The seven Western states reliant on the Colorado River have once again failed to meet a crucial deadline to formulate a plan addressing the ongoing record drought and severe water shortages. This marks the second missed deadline, raising concerns about the future of water management in the region.

In response to the situation, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo issued a joint statement urging the Upper Basin states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—to make more concessions. The governors emphasized the importance of the Colorado River, stating, “The Colorado River is essential to our communities and economies, and our states have conserved large volumes of water in recent years to stabilize the basin’s water supplies for years to come.” They reiterated their firm stance that all seven basin states must share the responsibility of conservation.

As part of their commitment to addressing the crisis, Arizona, California, and Nevada have proposed reductions in their Colorado River allocations: 27%, 10%, and 17%, respectively. This collaborative effort highlights the urgency of the situation.

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, who played a pivotal role in negotiating a contingency plan for the river in 2019, described the current conditions in the Colorado Basin as “dire.” He pointed to the state’s low snowpack as a significant concern. “If we don’t address this problem together—head-on and fast—our communities, farms, and economies will suffer,” Hickenlooper stated. He emphasized that litigation would not resolve the long-term challenges posed by aridification.

John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, also voiced his frustration regarding the lack of progress. He noted, “The actions we have taken over the past two-plus decades are less about raising Lake Mead’s elevation than they are about protecting ourselves if things go from bad to worse.”

The states previously allowed a November deadline set by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to pass without a strategy to address impending water shortages, as current guidelines are set to expire this year. Over 40 million people across these states, along with Mexico and Native American tribes, depend on Colorado River water, which is vital for agriculture, drinking water, and electricity for millions of homes and businesses.

Major cities such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles are significant consumers of this precious resource. Chronic overuse, coupled with drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change, has further diminished water flows in the river.

The allocation and conservation of water, particularly during dry spells, have been central to agreements among the states for decades. The original 1922 Colorado River Compact was based on water amounts that are no longer available, especially in light of the ongoing long-term drought.

Negotiations among the states have been ongoing for over two years. If a consensus cannot be reached, the federal government may intervene and create a plan that could leave all parties dissatisfied, potentially leading to litigation.

Recent scientific findings indicate that snow cover and snow depth in the West are at their lowest levels in decades. Some regions have experienced their warmest December through early February on record. Typically, snow cover during this time spans approximately 460,000 square miles—an area comparable to California, Utah, Idaho, and Montana combined. However, this year, it has shrunk to about 155,000 square miles, roughly the size of California alone, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.