The Biden administration is hoping to broker a deal involving seven Western states when it comes to the Colorado River. The administration is hoping to get such a deal done before Donald Trump takes office in late January.
The administration has now proposed nearly a half-dozen plans for usage that would protect water levels. The Department of the Interior is now working to develop a strategy that would be in place by late 2026, when the current federal plan is set to expire.
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Seven states surround the river and depend on it. They are New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada and California. The Colorado River is the largest source of water in the region and provides clean water, hydropower and habitat to roughly 40 million people, as well as tribal nations and a wide range of species.
The battle over water rights has gone on for decades as drought conditions and rising temperatures have resulted in lower water levels. Researchers at UCLA have determined 10 trillion gallons of water have gone out of the river basin between 2000 and 2021.
A climate adviser to the White House says it owes it to future generations to find long-term solutions that ensure the river’s stability.
A top water official from Arizona said the states will try to make as much progress as they can in the days that remain in this administration.
