"The Trump administration has released an outline of four options for dealing with ongoing water shortages along the Colorado River, as officials from seven Western states remain at odds in negotiations over how to address the water crisis. Current rules for handling water shortages expire at the end of this year and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's alternatives propose ways to determine water cutbacks after that."
"As the Trump administration released its draft environmental review Friday, Cameron said his agency hasn't chosen from among the five alternatives detailed in the report, "given the importance of a consensus-based approach." An agreement is expected to "incorporate elements or variations of these five alternatives," he said. One of the four alternatives is just "basic coordination," which federal officials say could be done absent an agreement among the states."
Federal officials released an outline of four options to address ongoing Colorado River water shortages while seven Western states remain divided in negotiations. Current shortage rules expire at the end of the year, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposed alternatives to determine post-2026 water cutbacks. Federal leaders emphasized the need to quickly establish a plan, ideally one agreed to by all seven states. Options range from basic coordination that could proceed without full state agreement to enhanced coordination, maximum operational flexibility, a supply-driven approach, and a no-action alternative. The river supplies cities, 30 Native tribes, and farming communities across the region.
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