US EditionLombardo, Colorado River Governors Meet with Interior Secretary as Deadline Approaches
Seven basin governors, led by Interior Secretary Burgum, face a Feb. 14 deadline amid deadlock over water cuts and potential federal intervention, with Lower Basin states already making major reductions.
- With a Feb. 14 deadline looming, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum convened the seven basin governors in Washington, D.C., seeking a long-term water-sharing agreement.
- After years of conservation, Lower Basin states have conserved nearly 9 million acre-feet while Upper Basin states refuse mandatory cuts, demanding Lower Basin take 2.1 million acre-feet first amid weak winter snowpack.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not attend and sent other officials, Becky Mitchell, Colorado's lead negotiator, said Upper Basin governors oppose mandatory reductions, and John Entsminger said negotiators scheduled a Monday call and expect intensive follow-ups.
- About 40 million residents and farms rely on the river; Arizona faces losing over 500,000 acre-feet annually from its 2.1 million acre-feet allocation, raising supply risks.
- The Friday discussion remained high-level and did not focus on the Bureau of Reclamation's four-option document, while officials plan follow-up calls and meetings to press consensus and governors called for more state and federal water infrastructure investments.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Arizona seeks fair share of Colorado River water in negotiations with upper basin states
Key points: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in Washington to make case for Colorado River cuts Seven states missed November deadline for new agreement on river’s water allocation Arizona has conserved nearly 9 million acre-feet of water over 15 years Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state’s chief water official head to Washington to make their case to a top official in the Trump administration and other governors that Arizona already has taken major cut…
Lombardo, Colorado River governors meet with Interior Secretary as deadline approaches
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and Southern Nevada's top water official were in Washington, D.C., on Friday as a Feb. 14 federal deadline nears for an agreement between seven states that depend on Colorado River water.
Arizona Mirror
Colorado River governors express cautious optimism after ‘historic’ DC meeting
The sun rises over Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on July 10, 2025, in Page, Arizona. Lake Powell, a critical Colorado River reservoir, is only at a third of its capacity as drought conditions in the Southwest worsen. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)With the deadline to reach a water usage agreement looming, leaders from the seven Colorado River Basin states expressed cautious optimism that their “historic” meeting in W…
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