End of January 2026

Axios Phoenix
Governor Katie Hobbs traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials and other Basin state governors as the deadline to reach a Colorado River agreement approaches. Arizona is pushing to avoid deeper mandatory cuts that would heavily affect Central Arizona Project deliveries.

Colorado Sun
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the state’s top water negotiator joined the D.C. meetings, signaling growing urgency among Upper Basin states. Officials acknowledged drought forecasts are “exceedingly grim,” with reservoirs unlikely to recover soon.

Las Vegas Weekly
Nevada and six other Basin states are running out of time to agree on a plan for managing the shrinking Colorado River. If no consensus is reached, the federal government is expected to impose its own operating rules.

Rep. David Schweikert Press Release
Congressman Schweikert introduced the “Equal Access to the Colorado River Act,” claiming it would protect Arizona during future shortages. The proposal focuses on reallocating access during drought conditions.

Prescott eNews
Panels of experts and negotiators warned that despite ongoing talks, major disagreements remain unresolved. Some officials are openly preparing for legal and political fights if negotiations fail.

Post Independent
Colorado officials are signaling readiness to fight for their water allocations if no deal is reached, reflecting hardened positions among states.

Arizona Republic / State Affairs
New legislation would make it easier to move water from rural Arizona to growing cities, including changes affecting irrigation and groundwater use.

NBC Palm Springs / LA Times
California officials are debating how to manage water deliveries as federal Colorado River rules near expiration. Environmental groups warn that ecosystem collapse is possible if large diversions continue.

Nevada Independent
Nevada’s warmer winter may reduce snowpack and hydropower generation, potentially increasing water and energy costs for residents.

KJZZ
Arizona lawmakers advanced legislation to increase the state’s Colorado River litigation fund, signaling preparation for court battles if negotiations collapse. Colorado is doing the same, underscoring how close the basin is to legal confrontation rather than collaboration.

KJZZ
Central Arizona Project leaders warned that deep federal water cuts would severely impact Arizona communities, agriculture, and economies that rely on CAP deliveries.

Arizona Water News (ADWR)
Arizona’s water director told state lawmakers that the Colorado River is entering a “new paradigm” where historic rules no longer match hydrology or climate reality. Long-term shortages are now assumed, not hypothetical.

California Department of Water Resources 
California announced increased State Water Project allocations following December storms, improving flexibility for cities and farms. Officials emphasized that this does not end long-term supply risks. (more…)

KAWC Yuma Public Radio
As the federal deadline approaches, Colorado River stewards and water managers are openly debating which options remain viable to stabilize the river. Discussions now center on short-term operational changes, deeper conservation, and the possibility of federal intervention if states cannot agree.

Parker Pioneer
Local officials and residents raised concerns over proposed legislation that would allow groundwater transfers out of the McMullen Valley Basin, fearing it could accelerate depletion in western Arizona.

SignalsAZ
Queen Creek announced steps to secure its long-term water future through a mix of groundwater, imported water, and infrastructure investment.

NBC 9 News Denver / ABC4 Utah
Lawmakers and governors across the Basin are aligning legislative agendas around water security as negotiations intensify. Leaders acknowledge that compromise will be unavoidable.

Eurasia Review
An international analysis examines how climate change, overuse, and governance failures have pushed the Colorado River toward crisis, calling for coordinated action across jurisdictions.

Arizona House Committee on Natural Resources (Video)
Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke testified before lawmakers, outlining the seriousness of the Colorado River situation and the potential consequences if Basin states fail to reach agreement. He emphasized that Arizona remains highly vulnerable to deeper cuts under federal plans.

Colorado Sun
State water officials warn that drought forecasts and reservoir levels in Colorado are worse than previously expected, increasing urgency for action.

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January 26, 2026

ABC15 Arizona
The Central Arizona Project’s general manager warned that deeper Colorado River cuts would have severe impacts across Arizona, affecting municipal supplies, agriculture, and long-term planning. Officials stressed that Arizona is particularly vulnerable because CAP deliveries are among the first reduced during shortages.

Lake Havasu News Herald
Arizona lawmakers are weighing funding for drone-based cloud seeding programs aimed at increasing snowfall in key watersheds. Supporters see it as a potential tool to enhance runoff into the Colorado River system.

Arizona Republic
Mesa is finishing a $210 million water reuse pipeline that will reduce reliance on Colorado River water by recycling treated wastewater for non-drinking uses.

KJZZ
New aircraft equipped with laser technology will measure snow depth and water content across Arizona’s mountains, improving runoff forecasts.

Wyoming is exploring a voluntary program to conserve Colorado River water, potentially paying users to leave water in the river.

ABC15 Arizona
Seven Western governors, including Arizona’s governor, are traveling to Washington, D.C., as negotiations intensify and deadlines approach. States are scrambling to present unified positions ahead of federal meetings.

KUNR
Extraordinary winter warmth continues to suppress snowpack across much of the West. Officials warn that poor snow accumulation could require additional reservoir releases, including from Flaming Gorge, to meet downstream needs.

Colorado Sun
As data centers expand into Colorado, concerns are growing about their large water footprints in already-stressed regions.

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Federal officials again summoned governors from all seven Colorado River Basin states to Washington, D.C., signaling growing concern that negotiations remain stuck. Reports indicate the federal government is preparing to step in more forcefully if states cannot agree on near-term shortage management and a longer-term framework.

Governor Katie Hobbs is escalating efforts to restrict groundwater pumping tied to Saudi-backed alfalfa farming in La Paz County. The reporting highlights how years of unregulated groundwater use have drawn down aquifers connected to Colorado River–dependent regions.

New analysis outlines what may come next if Basin states fail to reach agreement, including deeper federal control, stricter shortage tiers, and more aggressive conservation.

Sources – January 23, 2026

• Los Angeles Times
  https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-01-22/trump-administration-governors-colorado-river
• E&E News by Politico Greenwire
  https://www.eenews.net/articles/burgum-summons-governors-to-dc-for-colorado-river-talks/
• Missoula Current (States Newsroom)
  https://missoulacurrent.com/colorado-river-states/
• News from the States
  https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/governors-colorado-river-states-summoned-dc-hopes-breaking-negotiations-impasse
• Mother Jones
  https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/01/arizona-governor-katie-hobbs-groundwater-saudi-alfalfa-exports-farming-almari-vicksburg-la-paz-county-fondomonte-lawsuit/
• Lake Powell Chronicle
  https://lakepowellchronicle.com/stories/colorado-river-at-the-crossroads-what-comes-next,96689

Arizona Budget Proposal Includes Major Funding for Colorado River Protection

On January 16, 2026, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) shared details of Governor Katie Hobbs’ FY 2027 Executive Budget Proposal focused on preparing for long-term challenges facing the Colorado River. The plan includes new and expanded funding aimed at strengthening water security across Arizona in the face of ongoing Colorado River shortages.

Key points from the budget related to water:

• $30 million one-time deposit into a newly created Colorado River Protection Fund to support conservation efforts and short-term drought response.
• Permanent funding mechanism for that Protection Fund to be supported by a water usage fee on data centers.
• Continued investment in water conservation, shortage mitigation, supply augmentation, and water infrastructure upgrades.
• A recognition that current Colorado River operating rules expire at the end of 2026, with negotiations underway to create a sustainable long-term framework.

Source:
Arizona Water News https://azwaternews.com/2026/01/16/fy2027_execbudgetproposal/

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Arizona announced new groundwater management rules for parts of La Paz County, expanding oversight in an area long known for unregulated pumping. The move follows increased scrutiny of agricultural water use and reflects a broader push to protect groundwater supplies as Colorado River shortages continue. La Paz County lies within CRIT’s region. Stronger groundwater rules help prevent over-pumping that can undermine surface water systems and threaten tribal water security.

A water policy expert argues that Basin states are unlikely to compromise without clear federal consequences. With post-2026 rules approaching, the federal government’s willingness to step in is seen as a key driver for progress. Federal involvement increases the importance of ensuring tribal water rights and sovereignty are explicitly recognized in any imposed or negotiated plan.

Multiple outlets report on the release of the draft post-2026 Colorado River management alternatives by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The plan outlines several options for operating Lake Powell and Lake Mead, including deeper cuts and greater federal control if states fail to agree. Officials stress that public and stakeholder input is still open but time is limited. These alternatives could directly affect downstream water deliveries. CRIT’s senior water rights, sovereignty, and river stewardship must be included before any plan is finalized.

Arizona municipal water providers stress that collaboration during the legislative session will be essential to address shortages, infrastructure needs, and conservation goals tied to the Colorado River.

Legislation was introduced in Congress to formally codify a tribal water rights settlement, providing legal certainty and recognition of the tribe’s rights. Each tribal settlement strengthens the broader recognition of tribal water rights across the Colorado River Basin and reinforces sovereignty.

Reports highlight emerging technologies, including satellite tools and agricultural innovations, aimed at reducing water use and improving efficiency across the West. Technology can support conservation efforts, but it does not replace enforceable water rights or the need to protect river flows.

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