Officials Warn of a Bleak Colorado River Future as Deadline Nears

As Colorado River reservoirs shrink, Arizona warns of a legal fight

A legal fight could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court and further complicate efforts by seven Western states to agree on how to share water from the shrinking river and its reservoirs, which have fallen to record low levels.

Officials warn of a bleak Colorado River future as deadline nears

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, speaks to PBS News about the fight for Colorado River water near the banks of the river in Grand Junction, Colorado on Aug. 19, 2026. (Screenshot via YouTube)The future of the Colorado River is looking bleak, and officials in the seven states that depend on its water say they’re happy to negotiate — but with current use rules expiring at the end of the year, compromise seems …

Arizona hires outside lawyers as Colorado River cuts raise stakes for the Southwest

A dispute over Arizona's Colorado River supply is entering a more confrontational stage, with officials increasingly treating litigation as a real possibility in a battle that could influence water access across the Southwest. Because negotiations remain stalled, state and municipal leaders in Arizona are preparing for a court clash that could further delay urgently needed cooperation over one of the region's most important shared resources. Her…

As Litigation Looms, State Officials Defiant over Colorado River’s Future – Pagosa Daily Post News Events & Video for Pagosa Springs Colorado

As Colorado officials tell it, the Lower Basin states failed to recognize the threat posed by the post-2000 megadrought until it was too late...