By Ken Ritter / Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a significant move for water management, federal water officials unveiled on Wednesday a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing critical concerns for seven states and numerous tribes that rely on Colorado River water and its hydropower. This initiative is essential to meet an approaching deadline set for August 2026, which requires stakeholders to determine the future management strategies of this vital waterway.
“Today we show our collective work,” stated Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, as she detailed four distinct action proposals along with one “no action” alternative. These considerations will be presented to the incoming Trump administration while still awaiting formal environmental assessments, leaving just 20 months for decisive action.
The announcement refrained from recommending specific allocations for Colorado River water, crucial for generating electricity that powers millions of households and businesses, irrigating extensive desert farmlands, and providing safe drinking water to metropolitan areas such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
Instead, the federal announcement highlighted key components from competing proposals submitted last March by various stakeholders. These included representatives from the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming, where the river’s headwaters are situated; the Lower Basin states of California, Arizona, and Nevada that are heavily reliant on water storage from Lake Powell and Lake Mead; as well as over two dozen Native American tribes entitled to river water.
“They’re not going to take any of the proposals,” commented Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. “The federal government put the components together in a different way and modeled them to provide near-maximum flexibility for negotiations to continue.”
A second option highlights enhancing both delivery and storage capabilities for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, incorporating federal and non-federal storage solutions to improve sustainability and adaptability during water shortages.
The third alternative, labeled “cooperative conservation,” drew upon a proposal from advocacy groups aimed at optimizing water releases from Lake Powell while ensuring collective efforts to maintain system integrity and functionality.
The “no action” option, though it fails to meet the objectives of the study, was included to satisfy requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing for a more comprehensive review.
As legal agreements that govern Colorado River water distribution are set to expire in 2026, stakeholders are faced with the urgent necessity of formulating solutions to combat the compounding challenges of climate change and over two decades of intense drought.
Tom Buschatzke, Arizona’s chief negotiator regarding the Colorado River, acknowledged a considerable gap between the positions of Upper and Lower Basin states. He also referenced the growing assertiveness of tribes, such as the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, regarding their longstanding water rights.
Buschatzke highlighted the presence of “some really positive elements” within the proposed alternatives but expressed the need for additional time to conduct a thorough evaluation. “I think anything that could be done to move things forward on a faster track is a good thing,” he remarked, asserting the importance of expediency in the negotiating process.
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado, emphasized the severity of the situation in a statement, noting that the proposals “underscore how serious a situation we’re facing on the Colorado River.” He asserted that a collaborative, seven-state plan is imperative to navigate the Colorado River crisis without resorting to litigation. “Otherwise, we’ll watch the river run dry while we sue each other,” he warned.
The timing of Wednesday’s announcement is particularly noteworthy, occurring two weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris lost her election bid to former President Donald Trump, signaling a pivotal shift ahead of a critical assembly of stakeholders set for next week at the Colorado River Water Users Association meetings in Las Vegas.
Kyle Roerink, the executive director of the Great Basin Water Network advocacy group, remarked that the “snapshots” presented in the announcement exemplify the uncertainty enveloping future river management just as a new administration prepares to embark on its journey.
“The river needs basin-wide curtailments, agreements to make tribes whole, a moratorium on new dams and diversions, commitments for endangered species, and new thinking about outdated infrastructure,” Roerink stated, underscoring the pressing need for comprehensive measures.
While Buschatzke refrained from speculating on whether Trump administration officials would maintain continuity with the approaches initiated under Biden’s government, Porter suggested that the announcement “shows an expectation of continuity.” She concluded, “The leadership is going to change, but there are a lot of people who have been working on this for a long time who will still be involved in the negotiations and modeling.”
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**How are tribal nations’ water rights being integrated into the ongoing negotiations for Colorado River water distribution?**
**Interview with Tom Buschatzke, Arizona’s Chief Negotiator on Colorado River Water Management**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Tom. The recent announcement from federal officials outlines a comprehensive framework for managing Colorado River water amidst growing challenges from drought and climate change. Can you summarize the main action proposals that have been put forth?
**Tom Buschatzke:** Absolutely. The Bureau of Reclamation proposed four distinct action alternatives along with a “no action” alternative. These focus on enhancing water delivery and storage capabilities for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, promoting cooperative conservation strategies, and integrating various stakeholder proposals to allow flexibility in negotiations. The goal is to maintain a sustainable water supply for millions who rely on this crucial resource.
**Interviewer:** There seems to be a significant divide between the Upper and Lower Basin states regarding water distribution. Can you elaborate on that?
**Tom Buschatzke:** Yes, there is indeed a considerable gap in perspectives. The Upper Basin states—Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming—are largely focused on maintaining their water rights and sustainability. The Lower Basin states, such as California, Arizona, and Nevada, are more concerned about immediate water needs, especially as storage levels in the iconic Lakes Powell and Mead are critically low. This difference complicates discussions and requires careful negotiation.
**Interviewer:** With tribal nations assertively reclaiming their water rights, how do you see their involvement in these negotiations evolving?
**Tom Buschatzke:** The involvement of tribes is becoming increasingly prominent. They have long-standing water rights that must be acknowledged and integrated into any new management framework. Tribes like the Gila River Indian Community are pushing for their entitlements, which adds another layer to the negotiations but also provides opportunities for collaborative solutions that respect both tribal rights and the needs of other stakeholders.
**Interviewer:** The deadline for finalizing a new framework is August 2026. How urgent is the situation, and what steps are you advocating to ensure timely progress?
**Tom Buschatzke:** The urgency cannot be overstated. With legal agreements about water distribution set to expire in 2026, we face intense pressure to finalize new arrangements. My call is for all parties to expedite discussions. We have some very positive elements in the proposals, and I believe that if we can streamline our decision-making processes, we can address these critical issues effectively and thoughtfully.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Tom, for your insights. As negotiations continue, it’s clear that collaboration among all parties is essential to ensure a sustainable future for the Colorado River and everyone who depends on it.
**Tom Buschatzke:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital we work together to safeguard this resource for future generations.
