Overview
- Utah commissioner Gene Shawcroft says negotiators are making steady progress toward broad alignment by Nov. 11, with finer details to follow.
- Reaching a deal in principle could keep management with the seven states and stave off federal intervention if consensus holds.
- Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs faults Upper Basin states for resisting mandatory cuts, while Lower Basin leaders push for shared reductions in dry years.
- States plan to refine proposals through February for federal review, with final plans expected by next October.
- Officials warn that failure to agree could trigger curtailments even as the river, which supplies about 40 million people, faces prolonged drought and over-allocation.