Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Senator Mike Lee warned Arizona, California, and Nevada that they risk losing $354 million in conservation aid if they pursue litigation over Colorado River water management. The funds, from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, expire in September, and Lee urged states to resolve disputes over water allocation instead of engaging in legal battles.

The federal government is proposing a 10-year plan to manage the Colorado River's reservoirs due to stalled negotiations among seven states and Mexico. Officials express concerns about the plan's requirement to renegotiate operations every two years, which could hinder long-term stability and funding for water management programs.

Colorado River compact negotiators from upper and lower basins acknowledge challenges in reaching a long-term water management agreement, with mediation considered as a potential solution. Key agreements governing water allotments are set to expire, and the Bureau of Reclamation has proposed a draft plan to address constrained conditions.

The Bureau of Reclamation announced it will impose a 10-year operating framework for managing the Colorado River Basin by summer 2023 if the seven states relying on the river fail to agree on a plan. The decision follows deadlocked negotiations and the river’s worst water year on record.