The Biden administration outlined proposals Friday to guide the future of a drought-ravaged Colorado River, pressing the seven states that share the shrinking waterway to resolve their impasse.
The Bureau of Reclamation released a detailed look at the five operating plans it is considering for addressing worsening drought on the 1,450-mile-long river that supports the states and the nation of Mexico.
“As the Basin works toward another consensus agreement that will both protect the long-term stability of the Colorado River Basin and meet the needs of communities, the alternatives released today provide a robust and fair framework for the future that recognizes the shared responsibility of all river users in addressing ongoing drought conditions,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, Interior’s acting deputy secretary.
A series of existing agreements that govern the Colorado River will expire at the end of 2026, including provisions that govern reductions when the waterway’s flows are insufficient to meet the needs of the 40 million individuals and 5.5 million acres of farmland that rely on it.
