The Biden administration is working urgently to secure an agreement among seven Western states over how to divide the Colorado River’s water fairly. The goal is to protect the river basin, which serves as the largest water source for the region, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
This effort aims to establish a sustainable framework for distributing water to tens of millions of people, irrigating crops, and powering homes and industries. However, sources involved in the negotiations believe reaching a deal in the limited time frame is highly unlikely due to deep divisions among stakeholders.
The states, split into upper-basin (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) and lower-basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) factions, disagree on who should face the biggest water cuts in the event of dwindling reservoir levels. Arizona’s water official, Tom Buschatzke, noted longstanding issues between these groups, making consensus difficult.
The urgency comes as the West faces increasing arid conditions, with more than 10 trillion gallons of water lost from the river system between 2000 and 2021 due to rising temperatures. Despite recent conservation efforts and wetter winters, scientists warn the river’s health continues to deteriorate.
A new operating plan for the river is required by August 2026, before the current agreement expires. However, the Biden administration hopes to speed up the process to avoid potential legal battles in the Supreme Court, a threat raised by some stakeholders.
The Bureau of Reclamation, under the Department of the Interior, is leading these talks and has proposed five options for post-2026 water use. These proposals aim to stabilize water levels and maintain hydropower at key reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Federal officials hope these options will nudge states toward a deal.
While progress under Biden’s administration is seen as critical, uncertainty looms with the incoming Trump administration, which will take over key negotiations. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has been nominated as Interior Secretary, but no candidate has been named yet for the crucial role of Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner.
Stakeholders remain cautious but optimistic that any advancements under the Biden administration can set the stage for meaningful decisions under the next government.
ARY NEWS, BBC NEWS, CNN, GEO NEWS, JANG NEWS
