Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Releases Colorado River Management Plan to Resolve State Water Deadlock
The administration announced a preferred Colorado River management plan to establish new water usage guidelines for the seven states, tribal nations, and Mexico connected to the river. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum presented the proposal to address the unprecedented low water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead caused by a historic drought. Under the plan, Lower Basin states—Arizona, California, and Nevada—could be required to cut up to 3 million acre-feet of water, while Upper Basin states—Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming—would voluntarily give up 200,000 acre-feet. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs criticized the proposal as an unfair burden, arguing that the Lower Basin should not bear the brunt of conservation efforts alone. Conversely, the Upper Basin governors expressed encouragement, noting that the guidelines provide a necessary short-term framework while negotiations for a permanent solution continue. If the states fail to reach a unanimous agreement by the October 1 deadline, the administration will impose the guidelines, potentially leading to litigation from states seeking a more balanced distribution of the vital resource.