Water Management

The new agreement means less water for Mexico, but provides stability to those who use the Colorado River near its delta.

Dozens of federally recognized tribes have legal and cultural claims on the Colorado River. Yet those tribes are often left out of negotiations and struggle to access water they're entitled to.

States that share the Colorado River have been meeting behind closed doors. But as they've failed to forge a deal for the river's future, more are questioning the negotiation process itself.

After years of disagreement between states, the federal government stepped in last month with a plan. Nevada is already suing, and more litigation could follow.

Under new regulations finalized last week, Nevada's share will be cut by over 70%. California and Arizona also face mandatory cuts that Upper Basin states like Utah avoided.

A poor snow year has led to low water levels for rivers in the West, while hot weather pushes water temperatures up. That's bad news for both fish and river recreators.

Evaporation is one of the river's biggest sources of water loss. Scientists are using floating weather stations to collect more accurate information on the conditions that influence evaporation.

Lake Powell and Lake Mead store water from the Colorado River that's used by millions. The combined amount of water in both reservoirs is currently the lowest it has been in nearly 70 years.

Environmental advocates argue that new water-sharing rules can and should keep the river flowing for plants, animals, people, and infrastructure.

Negotiations remain at an impasse, making a messy court battle increasingly likely. One Utah water official argued such a move would mean choosing courtrooms over cooperation.