Overview
- Utah’s Colorado River commissioner Gene Shawcroft accused Lower Basin states, particularly Arizona, of misrepresenting Upper Basin positions and said a framework generous to Lake Mead was offered but not accepted or countered.
- Utah’s HB473 advanced with amendments to expand the Colorado River Authority’s litigation role and shift it under the Department of Natural Resources, aligning with potential appropriations of up to $6 million for legal support.
- Arizona lead negotiator Tom Buschatzke has signaled the state is prepared to litigate if negotiations fail to break the stalemate.
- The Bureau of Reclamation released a post‑2026 draft environmental review in mid‑January, with comments due March 2, and state negotiators say a consensus by July 1 could be adopted before a federal plan is selected.
- Hydrology warnings are sharpening, with projections that Lake Powell could drop about 50 feet this year and Glen Canyon Dam could stop producing power by December, prompting discussion of 12‑ to 24‑month stopgap measures.