Overview
- At the Colorado River Water Users Association meeting in Las Vegas, state negotiators reported no consensus on a long-term framework, with Nevada’s John Entsminger saying a five-year agreement is the most realistic near-term outcome.
- The Bureau of Reclamation plans to release a draft environmental impact statement within weeks as federal officials hold to a Feb. 14 target for a seven-state agreement and signal continued pressure to avoid litigation.
- Lower Basin states proposed roughly 1.5 million acre-feet in annual reductions to cover the structural deficit, while Upper Basin representatives resist additional mandatory cuts, noting they already use less than their full allocations under poor hydrology.
- Reservoir conditions remain strained, with Lake Powell near 27% capacity and Lake Mead near 33%, reinforcing the need to align releases and storage with reduced inflows.
- Separately, the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Gila River Indian Community signed a cooperation proclamation with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District to coordinate on shortages, river restoration and long-term drought response.