Bargaining over Colorado River regulations intensifies as deadline approaches

The states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming are locked in a disagreement over a new long-term operating plan for the drought-affected Colorado River. The river, which supplies water to over 40 million people, is currently experiencing a severe drought.

The proposed plan aims to share water supplies based on the current water situation, a departure from historical figures. Known as the "natural flow" plan, it bases water sharing on recent water records instead of historical figures, and it is believed that this plan requires less water than historical figures suggest.

The proposal seeks to streamline the negotiation process for future water supply cuts, which could help in reaching a consensus more easily. This aspect of the proposal was a major sticking point in past discussions. The elimination of the need for future negotiations is a significant aspect of the current proposal, and it is hoped that this could contribute to a more harmonious negotiation process.

However, not all states are on board. Arizona officials are urging the Upper Basin states to commit to future reductions in their water use. In Wyoming, the key authorities involved in discussions about the new long-term operating plan include state water management agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). However, there is no clear public commitment from these Wyoming authorities to reduce their own water use as part of such an agreement in the current discourse.

The BLM implements fire and land management related to drought, but specific water reduction pledges by Wyoming agencies in the Colorado River negotiations have not been documented in the available sources.

With a federal deadline for a decision on the new long-term operating plan two months away, there is a risk that the negotiations could be upended due to the ongoing disagreements. The proposal's goal of eliminating the need for future negotiations could help reduce disagreements and lead to more efficient decision-making.

As the Colorado River continues to face unprecedented drought, a solution that can ensure fair and efficient water distribution is crucial. The proposed "natural flow" plan offers a potential solution, but it remains to be seen whether all parties can agree on its implementation.