The Biden administration has introduced several potential strategies for managing the Colorado River long-term as the expiration of current regulations draws near.
These five proposed alternatives aim to replace the 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages, which will remain in effect until the end of 2026. These guidelines govern conservation measures for the Colorado River, which stretches across 1,450 miles and supplies water to around 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico.
Federal alternatives address conflicting proposals from Colorado River basin states
Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis emphasized the need for swift action, calling it “a moment for solutions and leadership.” During a Wednesday press call, she stated, “Today, we’re putting forth alternatives that have established a robust and fair framework for a basin-wide agreement.”
The Bureau of Reclamation, which is overseeing the revision process, set a March 2024 deadline for the Colorado River basin states to submit their own unified proposal, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Colorado River is divided into the Upper and Lower basins, with the Lower Basin comprising California, Arizona, and Nevada, and the Upper Basin consisting of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. Earlier this year, the two basins failed to reach a consensus, submitting conflicting proposals for the river’s future management.
The Lower Basin states proposed a plan that included voluntary reductions while distributing cuts more evenly across the entire river system, not just focusing on Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs. Meanwhile, the Upper Basin states presented a plan that accounted for shifting hydrological patterns, which are influenced by snowpack runoff.
Since no agreement was reached by March, the federal government released its own set of alternatives on Wednesday, which will undergo detailed analysis in an upcoming draft environmental impact statement (EIS). The proposals incorporate input from state officials, tribes, and various agencies.
“We’ve laid the foundation to ensure future guidelines will be robust and adaptive enough to address the uncertainties posed by climate change,” Daniel-Davis said.
The release of these alternatives is part of an effort to develop final operating guidelines before the August 2026 deadline, according to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. “These alternatives represent a wide range of actions that provide better predictability for water availability and greater opportunities for conservation,” Touton explained.
The alternatives include four viable options and a fifth “no action” option, which is required under NEPA and would revert to guidelines in place before 2007. Alternative 4, known as the “Basin Hybrid” plan, seeks to combine elements from both the Upper and Lower Basin proposals, as well as input from tribal nations. This plan aims to foster collaboration among all stakeholders.
Under Alternative 4, releases from Lake Powell would primarily be determined by the lake’s elevation, with some consideration for Lake Mead levels. This option introduces new mechanisms for delivery and storage that encourage conservation by both tribal and non-tribal parties.
It also proposes spreading the burden of cuts more equitably, using the capacity of seven key reservoirs instead of just Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Alternative 3, called “Cooperative Conservation,” builds on proposals from conservation groups and would base releases from Lake Powell on the storage in the Upper Basin system and current hydrological conditions.
Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis
It also suggests that serious cuts in the Lower Basin should consider recent hydrology and voluntary contributions from both basins. Alternative 2, or the “Federal Authorities Hybrid,” uses a combination of factors, including the elevations of both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, hydrological data, and Lower Basin deliveries.
The shortage triggers under this option would rely on the storage capacity across the seven reservoirs, with cuts proportionally distributed among all stakeholders.
The “Federal Authorities” option, Alternative 1, would focus on protecting critical infrastructure within the federal government’s legal framework. It would base Lake Powell releases on its own elevations and distribute Lower Basin shortages according to the century-old water rights priority system.
“These alternatives present a responsible range of options for moving forward,” Touton said. “There are difficult decisions and tradeoffs, but we believe these proposals offer a fair approach for finding solutions that benefit the entire region.”
During the same press call, Biden administration officials also reflected on the progress made under President Biden’s leadership regarding Colorado River issues.
Daniel-Davis recalled the near-crisis caused by a historic drought in 2021, when both Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached critically low levels. She praised the administration’s bold actions, calling it an “all-of-government approach” that helped address the situation. Touton echoed this sentiment, noting, “We managed to bring the Colorado River back from the brink of the worst drought in 1,800 years.”
White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi recognized both the administration’s efforts and the bipartisan work of regional governors in stabilizing the river system. He described the proposed alternatives as a roadmap for addressing the urgent challenges facing the river beyond 2026.
Responding to the Interior Department’s proposed alternatives, JB Hamby, Colorado River commissioner for California, emphasized that federal law mandates the management of the Colorado River Basin in line with the 1922 Colorado River Compact. He stressed that any new proposal must adhere to the compact’s requirement for mandatory water deliveries from the Upper Basin to the Lower Basin and Mexico.
Becky Mitchell, Colorado River commissioner for Colorado, indicated that her state has no formal comments on the alternatives at this time but remains firmly committed to the Upper Division States’ proposal, which seeks to enhance water storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead while protecting Colorado’s interests.
In a separate press call, Arizona’s Tom Buschatzke expressed that he needed more time to evaluate the proposals. While acknowledging some positive aspects, he expressed disappointment that the Bureau of Reclamation created its own alternatives instead of fully modeling the Lower Basin’s proposed plan, which he argued showed the region’s willingness to make cuts.
