Colorado River: Federal interim guidelines established through 2028

The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a Record of Decision establishing interim operating guidelines for the Colorado River through 2028. This decision provides a near-term operational framework for hydropower facilities, infrastructure, and water management for the seven states in the basin: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California.

While the interim guidelines offer short-term stability for reservoir operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, they do not replace the need for a permanent solution. The region faces severe water scarcity due to ongoing drought, affecting drinking water for millions, agricultural irrigation, and vital wildlife habitats.

Water utility companies in the region are already pivoting toward long-range planning, creative conservation, and community communication to manage dwindling resources. Experts emphasize that the next year and a half will be critical as Basin states negotiate a long-term agreement to determine the future of the river and the economies that depend on it.