"Colorado River Negotiations Yield Messy Compromise, Lake Mead Water Levels Rise with Federal Funding"

Negotiators for the seven states in the Colorado River Basin, including Colorado, met at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference in Las Vegas to discuss new rules for managing water use after 2026. The officials acknowledged that the negotiations would result in a messy compromise that would not solve all of the basin's problems. The key issues include balancing competing needs among water users, addressing overuse in the Lower Basin, and finding solutions to the supply-demand imbalance and the impacts of climate change. The negotiators emphasized the importance of compromise and shared responsibility, as litigation and legislation have proven challenging. The involvement of tribes in the negotiations was also highlighted as a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed.