Colorado River water management plan nears federal approval

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to release an Environmental Impact Statement and a two‑year operating plan within a 10‑year framework for the Colorado River. The draft, anticipated in the coming days, would guide multi‑state negotiations aimed at averting a collapse of the river that supplies water for agriculture, hydropower, recreation and municipal use to about 40 million people across seven Western states.

State representatives, such as John Berggren of Western Resource Advocates and officials from the Southern Nevada Water Authority, say the plan marks a step forward but falls short of a comprehensive solution. Scientists warn that climate change could cut river flows by up to 30 % by 2055 and that damming and reservoir operations may further amplify greenhouse‑gas emissions, creating a “climate doom loop.” The upcoming federal impact statement seeks to address over‑use, drought, and long‑term sustainability, though final agreement among the basin states remains pending.