A new federal decision offers short-term stability for the river basin, but a more durable agreement between states is still needed as the region adapts to future hydrologic realities
On Aug. 21, the Department of the Interior finalized a Record of Decision establishing interim operating guidelines for the Colorado River through 2028. This decision provides a near-term operational framework for hydropower facilities, infrastructure, and water management in the river, while the seven states that comprise the Colorado River Basin—Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California—continue working toward a long-term agreement. The decision provides important near-term stability for the Basin, but it is not the finish line. Instead, it creates an opportunity to focus on the work that will ultimately determine the Colorado River’s future.
The next year and a half will be critical. As Basin states negotiate a long-term agreement, the choices they make will shape the future of the river and the communities, economies, and fish and wildlife that depend on it for decades to come.
The Colorado River supports drinking water for millions of people; irrigates farms and ranches across the West; and supports wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat. For hunters and anglers, it is far more than a source of water. A healthy river and tributaries support productive trout fisheries, replenish wetlands that provide essential habitat for migrating waterfowl, and sustain healthy riparian corridors that countless wildlife species depend on throughout the Basin. Conserving these resources is fundamental to sustaining outdoor recreation and local economies.
The short-term operating framework establishes operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, providing near-term certainty for reservoir operations and water management across the seven Basin states while the more challenging work continues. But only a long-term agreement, not short-term operational plans, will determine how the Basin adapts to a future shaped by today’s hydrologic realities. As Basin states continue negotiations, healthy rivers and reliable water supplies should remain complementary objectives. A resilient Colorado River system depends on both.
Achieving that outcome will require increased investment in conservation, watershed and habitat restoration, agricultural and municipal water efficiency, and innovative water management. These approaches strengthen water security while conserving fish and wildlife habitat, helping ensure the Colorado River continues to support hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities across the Basin.
With short-term operations now in place, the Department of the Interior has an important opportunity to maintain momentum by supporting a transparent, collaborative process that keeps Basin states engaged in productive negotiations. Successfully facilitating these discussions will be essential to helping Basin states reach a long-term agreement that reflects today’s Colorado River conditions while recognizing the importance of healthy rivers, reliable water supplies, replenished wetlands, and irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat.
TRCP looks forward to continuing to work alongside the DOI, Basin states, and partners across the Colorado River Basin by sharing technical expertise and advancing collaborative, science-based conservation solutions. Decades of collaborative conservation have shown that durable solutions become possible when diverse interests work together toward shared goals.
The short-term operating framework provides time, but the Basin’s long-term success will ultimately be measured by what happens next. Over the next year and a half, Basin states have an opportunity to make meaningful progress toward a durable agreement that strengthens the Colorado River for generations to come. Continued collaboration among states, water users, Tribal Nations, conservation organizations, and other key stakeholders will be critical to achieving that shared goal.
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