The Biden administration has unveiled a sweeping framework to address the challenges facing the Colorado River Basin, a vital water source for over 40 million people across the American West.
On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior released five proposed alternatives as part of the "Post-2026 Operations" for the Colorado River, aimed at ensuring the long-term stability of Lakes Mead and Powell, the basin's two largest reservoirs.
The alternatives, which stem from collaborations with basin states, tribal nations and other stakeholders, offer a range of approaches to managing the river's increasingly strained resources.
A centerpiece of the proposals is the Basin Hybrid Alternative, which blends elements from competing plans submitted by the Upper Basin states, Lower Basin states and tribal nations, potentially paving the way for a coordinated operations strategy.
"The alternatives we have put forth today establish a robust and fair framework for a Basin-wide agreement," said Laura Daniel-Davis, the department's acting deputy secretary, in a statement. She emphasized that the proposed alternatives aim to balance the needs of all communities while ensuring the stability of the river basin for generations.
The Colorado River Basin has faced unprecedented challenges due to a climate change–driven megadrought, compounded by unsustainable water use.
The crisis has caused Lakes Mead and Powell to drop to historically low levels, threatening water supplies for urban areas, agricultural communities and ecosystems, as well as the hydropower infrastructure that is critical to the region.
The Interior Department will analyze the five alternatives, including those submitted by environmental groups and tribal nations, as part of an environmental impact assessment. A final agreement must be reached by 2026, when the current drought guidelines established in 2007 expire.
Among the contentious issues is the historic divide between the Upper and Lower basins, governed by the 1922 Colorado River Compact.
The Upper Basin states—Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico—say they should send less water downstream because of their smaller reservoirs and consistent drought-related cuts.
Meanwhile, the Lower Basin states—Arizona, California and Nevada—advocate for cuts across the entire river system, sharing the burden among all users.
Responses to the new framework have been mixed.
Arizona water officials expressed disappointment that the Lower Basin's proposed plan wasn't fully modeled.
"There are some really positive elements to these alternatives, but at the same time I am disappointed that [Bureau of Reclamation] chose to create alternatives rather than to model the Lower Basin states' alternative in its entirety," Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said in a press call following the department's announcement.
A statement from all the Lower Basin states struck a similar tone. It said: "The release of five alternatives today from the Department of the Interior represents one step in a multi-step environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)."
The statement continued, "The Lower Basin States remain steadfastly committed to reducing use and conserving Colorado River water."
Upper Basin representatives, however, insist their plan offers the best path forward. Becky Mitchell, Colorado River commissioner for the state of Colorado, did not comment on the specific alternatives but said in a statement reported by The Hill, "Colorado continues to stand firmly behind the Upper Division States' Alternative."
Both Upper and Lower Basin states maintain a willingness to work collaboratively to find a solution but are offering little in the way of movement on their stated plans.
While the states continue to battle it out over the 2026 agreement, others are arguing for a radical rethink.
The Glen Canyon Institute (GCI), for example, is advocating for the dam at Lake Powell to be bypassed and for a "Fill Mead First" approach to be undertaken.
"Despite calls from GCI and many other stakeholders to include Fill Mead First and a full bypass of Glen Canyon Dam in the analyses, the Bureau of Reclamation stated that they won't study the idea because it is 'not an infrastructure [environmental impact statement],'" Eric Balken, GCI's executive director, told Newsweek. "Yet most of the EIS alternatives mention draining upstream reservoirs to protect the infrastructure of Glen Canyon Dam."
Balken continued: "Early [Bureau of Reclamation] models of alternatives show—even with major reductions in use—multiple scenarios where Lakes Powell and Mead drop near dead pool, jeopardizing the health of the Grand Canyon and water deliveries to the 25 million people in the Lower Basin."
With little end to the disputes in sight, the prospect of 40 million people's water supply being decided in court is becoming increasingly likely.
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