"With Western states deadlocked in negotiations over how to cut water use along the Colorado River, the Trump administration has called in the governors of seven states to Washington to try to hash out a consensus. The governors of at least four - Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming - say they'll attend the meeting next week led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom won't."
"The states are "actively engaged and doing the hard work needed to reach consensus," said JB Hamby, chair of California's Colorado River Board, who will attend the meeting. Hamby said California will "continue to lead" with real commitments of water reductions "because shared responsibility means every state has to do its part." California has used less water the last three years under a temporary deal, with farmers being paid to leave some of their hay fields dry part of the year."
Seven states that depend on the Colorado River face a federal deadline to agree on reductions in water use as current rules expire at year end. The administration summoned governors to Washington for talks led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum; at least four governors plan to attend while California will send representatives instead of Governor Gavin Newsom. State representatives have negotiated for two years over allocation cuts, and federal officials set a Feb. 14 deadline to reach agreement. California reports reduced water use via a temporary program paying farmers, while lower-basin and upper-basin states remain divided.
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