Overview
- The roughly 1,600-page draft environmental impact statement analyzes five ways to run Lake Mead and Lake Powell after current rules expire in 2026.
- A "compliance" option would allow federal implementation without a seven-state deal and could cut deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada by up to about 1.48 million acre-feet.
- The public comment period runs Jan. 16 through March 2, with virtual briefings scheduled for Jan. 29 and Feb. 10.
- States face a Feb. 14 target to present a consensus plan after nearly two years of stalled negotiations.
- Interior says it plans to issue a decision before Oct. 1 to ensure continuity, as Lake Powell is about 27% full and Lake Mead about 33%, with hydropower at risk if inflows stay low.