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“This kind of money is huge for southern Utah,” said Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy. “It's hard to overstate how high the stakes are.”
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Arizona's Gila River Indian Tribe said it does not support the Lower Basin's proposal for post-2026 river management, adding a new layer to the complicated negotiations.
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Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming have one plan in mind. California, Arizona and Nevada have a different idea. The seven states primarily disagree about how to account for climate change and how to release water from Lake Powell.
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Water negotiators from states around the Southwest said they are planning to submit separate proposals to the Bureau of Reclamation about managing the Colorado River after 2026.
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The Bureau of Reclamation released a draft plan for releases from Glen Canyon Dam, which holds back Lake Powell. It's an effort to protect the Colorado River's native humpback chub from smallmouth bass.
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Policymakers say a wet winter has created space for discussions about long-term water management, but they have a diverse set of interests to consider while drawing up new rules.
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The Imperial Irrigation District in California announced it will conserve 100,000 acre-feet of water in 2024, less than its initial water conservation goals.
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The U.S. Department of the Interior is throwing its support behind the proposal from the lower basin states to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026.
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A report from the Bureau of Reclamation shows some consensus among water stakeholders but highlights lingering divisions among a diverse pool of water users.
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Federal officials said Tuesday they will ease water cuts for Western states reliant on the Colorado River next year. Bountiful snowfall and rain last winter pulled much of the region out of drought this spring and raised water levels at key reservoirs.
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Michael Brain replaces Tanya Trujillo, who recently resigned after playing a key role in Colorado River negotiations. Agency officials say Brain will help the Interior Department as it addresses drought resilience.
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Trujillo has served as assistant secretary for water and science since 2021. She oversees the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and has been involved in talks between the federal government, seven states, Native American tribes and Mexico over how to reduce the reliance on the Colorado River.