Feds release proposal for Colorado River management

Considered the “lifeblood of the American West,” the Colorado River is shared across seven states and parts of Mexico – an area including over 40 million people, a multi-billion-dollar ag industry, 30 federally-recognized Native American Tribes and countless ecosystems. 

However, in the wake of ongoing drought conditions and increased resource demands, the river’s streamflow – most recently reported at 12.4 million acre-feet (maf) – has continued to shrink, leaving the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming and the lower basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California in disagreement about how to share its dwindling resources. 

With current water management rules set to expire in 2026, the Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) released its highly-anticipated proposal on Nov. 20, outlining five alternatives for managing water in the Colorado River Basin long term.

The five alternatives

Alternative One, the “Federal Authorities Alternative,” closely reflects BuRec’s current management strategy, which was established in 2007. However, many believe this plan to be insufficient because it allowed reservoirs to fall so low in the first place.

Under this alternative, releases from Lake Powell to the lower basin states would be determined based on the lake’s elevation and range anywhere from five maf to 9.5 maf. 

Additionally, lower basin shortages of up to 3.5 maf would be distributed through a priority system and triggered based on combined storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. 

Alternative Two, the “Federal Authorities Hybrid Alternative,” uses concepts and proposals from Tribal Nations, federal agencies and other stakeholders to achieve robust protections of the river’s resources, while also taking natural resources, hydropower and recreation into account using a new approach.

“This alternative would include delivery and storage mechanisms for Lake Powell and Lake Mead with federal and non-federal storage pools and maximum flexibilities or all users,” explains BuRec. “The operations incorporate basin-wide shared contributions to the sustainability of the system, including upper basin conservation, which would be stored in Lake Powell and lower basin storages starting at 1.5 maf, which exceeds average annual evaporative and system losses at and below Lake Mead, reaching 3.5 maf.”

Under this alternative, shortages would be triggered by combined storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead and distributed proportionally. 

Releases from Lake Powell to the lower basin states would be determined by a combination of Lake Powell and Lake Mead elevations, the 10-year running average hydrology and lower basin deliveries.

Titled the “Cooperative Conservation Alternative,” Alternative Three considers ideas proposed by conservation organizations with the goal of “stabilizing system storage, integrating stewardship and mitigation strategies of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, maintaining opportunities for binational cooperative measures, incentivizing water conservation and designing flexible water management strategies.” 

Under this alternative, Lake Powell would release more water, ranging from five to 11 maf and would be determined by total upper basin system storage and recent hydrology. 

This proposal also includes basin-wide cutbacks, including more conservation in the lower basin – a maximum of four maf, compared to the 35 maf in other alternatives.

Alternative Four, the “Basin Hybrid Alternative,” looks to blend competing proposals submitted by the upper and lower basin states and Tribal Nations back in March. 

Under this alternative, Lake Powell releases would be primarily determined by the lake’s elevation, with some consideration for storage in Lake Mead. Releases would range from five to 12 maf and storage distribution would be two-pronged – priority and proportionally. 

“This alternative would include new delivery and storage mechanisms for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, including incentivizing conservation and managing/offsetting reduction, to afford the Tribal and non-Tribal entities the same ability to use these mechanisms. The operations incorporate basin-wide shared contributions, including upper basin conservation which would be stored in Lake Powell and up to 2.1 maf of lower basin shortages triggered by combined seven-reservoir storage,” BuRec says.

The last alternative is the “No Action Alternative,” in which operations would revert to annual determinations announced through the Annual Operating Plan. 

Moving forward

With a deadline of August 2026, BuRec notes the alternatives were released now to “enhance transparency and create a framework for a realistic and fair path for Colorado River Basin states, Tribes and non-governmental organizations to continue to work toward a consensus agreement protecting the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System into the future.”

From here, BuRec will analyze the proposed alternatives to develop a draft environmental impact statement (EIS), and once published, the draft EIS will kick off a public comment period. BuRec will then publish a final EIS, which will be followed by a record of decision in 2026. 

So far, a few proponents from each group have weighed in on the BuRec’s proposal. 

In a joint statement, Las Vegas Valley Water District General Manager John Entsminger and representatives from other lower basin states note, while they need time to evaluate the options released from the federal government, they remain committed to negotiating a path forward with all seven Colorado River states. 

Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell told the Colorado Sun she couldn’t yet comment on BuRec’s alternatives, but she continues to stand behind the upper basin’s proposal submitted to BuRec in March. 

“Colorado remains committed to working collaboratively with the other Colorado River Basin states, the federal government and Tribal Nations towards a consensus approach and also stands ready to protect our state’s significant interests in the Colorado River,” she says.

During a Nov. 20 press conference, BuRec Commissioner Camille Touton commented, “These alternatives represent a responsible range from which to build the best and most robust path forward for the basin. There certainly are extremely difficult choices and tradeoffs to be made, but we believe there are ample opportunities to create a fair path to solutions that work for the entire region.”

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.