Colorado River water distribution negotiations waver, threatened by disagreements over future water allocation

A Wyoming official voiced concerns about being asked to relinquish the anticipated future and commit to obligations they claim are unrealistic.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 29 . 3:52 AM

2 min read

Dispute over Colorado River water allocation hangs in the balance

Colorado River water distribution negotiations waver, threatened by disagreements over future water allocation

The Colorado River, a vital water source for 40 million individuals and 5.5 million acres of irrigated farmland, is at the heart of a contentious negotiation over its future. The focus of these talks revolves around the allocation of water between the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states, with the Upper Basin states being asked to forgo water usage to achieve parity with the Lower Basin.

More than two decades of persistent drought have shrunk the available water by as much as 20 percent. The Upper Basin states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico, have long used less than their full allocation, while the Lower Basin states have tapped their full share. The Upper Basin Commissioner, Becky Mitchell, argues that the Upper Basin already takes significant cuts, averaging about 1.3 million acre feet annually due to decreased precipitation or snowpack as drought conditions have lingered in the West.

The negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, with no success yet in sight. The Lower Basin states, primarily California, Arizona, and Nevada, are demanding reductions to Upper Basin supplies that would bar future water infrastructure and roll back current use. This proposal would still require cuts, a stance supported by Doug MacEachern, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, who emphasises the importance of voluntary, certain, and verifiable water-use reductions by all seven Colorado River states.

Wyoming, one of the Upper Basin states, has only developed an additional 150,000 acre-feet of water in over 100 years since the Compact was signed. The state's Commissioner, Brandon Gebhardt, has stated that demands from Lower Basin states would force Wyoming to sharply cut back on water use and prohibit future development. This could have significant implications for the state's growth and development.

California's officials argue that they are asking the Upper Basin states not to increase demands on the water supply but aren't requiring them to halt all future development. A supply-driven proposal, or "natural flow" plan, has been suggested, which would divide the water supplies based on how much water the river actually contains. This plan is yet to gain widespread support among the states.

The Interior Department has set a November deadline for the states to reach consensus, using the threat of federal action if they fail to do so. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the future of the Colorado River and the millions of lives it supports.