Historic Drought And Political Divide Stall Colorado River Agreement

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics

With the Feb. 14 deadline looming, the seven states in the Colorado River Basin failed to reach an agreement on how to manage the river after the 2026 operating guidelines expire later this year.

John Entsminger, Nevada’s chief negotiator, said there is no deal in place.

“The seven Colorado River Basin states have failed to reach an agreement to collectively protect our respective communities and economies in the face of almost certain reductions to our use of the river,” Entsminger said. “As I talk with people throughout Southern Nevada, I hear their frustrations that years of negotiations have yielded almost no headway in finding a path through these turbulent waters.”

Entsminger added, “As someone who has spent countless nights and weekends away from my family trying to craft a reasonable, mutually acceptable solution only to be confronted by the same tired rhetoric and entrenched positions, I share that frustration.”

The statement was initially reported by the Water Desk at the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder.

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