Water law

Wind River Water Forum 2026

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:28:05 +0000

Wind River Water Forum 2026 Annie Carlozzi Thu, 05/14/2026 - 12:28

Daniel Anderson

On Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd, the Wind River Water Resource Control Board (WRWRCB), Gina Guy Center for Land and Water Law, and Getches-Wilkinson Center hosted the 2nd Annual Wind River Water Forum. Gathering at the Frank B. Wise Building in Fort Washakie, this year’s forum focused on water management issues and solutions led by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho of Wind River Reservation. Attendees engaged throughout the forum, and both in-person and remote attendance was roughly four times that of last year’s inaugural Wind River Water Forum. One message rang clear from this year’s Wind River Water Forum: dedicated interest in responsible and thoughtful water management at Wind River Reservation is growing – starting first from the local community but also expanding to a diverse national audience.

Wind River Water Resource Control Board Panel

By 9AM on May 1st, there was standing room only as community members from Wind River Reservation, local non-profits, university researchers and students, government officials, and more packed in to hear from the Wind River Water Resource Control Board. Moderated by John Washakie, Former Deputy Tribal Water Engineer, and featuring Lokilo St. Clair, Tribal Water Engineer, and members of the WRWRCB, this panel discussed the key history and pressing issues for Tribal-led water management at Wind River Reservation. Topics during the panel, and the Q&A that followed, ranged from how the Tribal Water Engineer’s office strives to maintain and improve Tribal irrigation projects to efforts to collaborate with other Missouri River Valley Basin Tribal Nations on water management.

Community Organizations Panel

After moving to a larger conference room during the break, the second panel of the day featured several community-based organizations working on water-related projects at Wind River Reservation. Moderated by Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter, Assistant Professor at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and Director of the High Plains American Indian Resource Institute, the panel included Jason Baldes from the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, Colleen Friday from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Big Wind Carpenter from Wyoming Outdoor Council, Leslie Shakespeare from the Wind River Development Fund, and Darwin St. Clair III. The panelists shared how water intersects with their work, including the cultural connections between water and buffalo recovery, the importance of water investments to support Tribal governance, and ongoing threats to water quality at Wind River Reservation. The throughline from these presentations? The community understands that water is vital to the health, culture, and economy of Wind River Reservation – and they are working hard to protect the many values that flow from water.

Following a community lunch, the conference shifted to consider emergent proposals to address long-standing water management issues facing many Tribal Nations. Moderated by Daniel Anderson, Getches-Wilkinson Center Water Law Fellow, the panel featured presentations by Jason Robison, Carl M. Williams Professor of Law and Responsibility and Co-Director of the Gina Guy Center at the University of Wyoming College of Law, Alyson White Eagle, Tribal Water Institute Fellow at the Native American Rights Fund, and Bethany Aragon, Student Fellow at the Gina Guy Center and J.D./M.A. student at University of Wyoming. These presentations examined the interstices between the Federal Trust Responsibility, Tribal sovereignty, access to clean water, structural exclusion of Tribal Nations from interstate water compacts, and tools within the Clean Water Act available to Tribal Nations. Dialogue on legal considerations followed the presentations, including the panelists’ thoughts about ongoing global efforts led by indigenous peoples to recognize their relationships with – and the rights of – rivers.

Finally, the day ended with a keynote address from Representative Ivan Posey, Wyoming House District 33, who also serves as the Co-Chairman of the Select Committee on Tribal Relations. Representative Posey expressed his thoughts on the importance of balancing water use at the Wind River Reservation, as well as the need to continue advancing education about water rights and water management concerns within Wind River Reservation and beyond.

Washakie Reservoir

On the following morning, May 2^nd, attendees of the Wind River Water Forum toured key water infrastructure across the Wind River Reservation. This included stops at Washakie Reservoir, Bull Lake, the proposed site of Steamboat Reservoir, and Diversion Dam. Led by Howard Brown, WRWRCB member, and Gary Collins, Former Tribal Water Engineer, the group considered not only the infrastructural challenges, but also the potential opportunities to improve Tribal benefits from water infrastructure. Discussion topics also included protection of Tribal cultural resources and how to more closely align water management decisions with enduring Tribal water relationships at Wind River Reservation.

Tour group at the Lenore Bridge over the Wind River

Planning for the 3rd Annual Wind River Water Forum is currently underway. Feel free to reach out to Daniel Anderson (daniel.anderson-1@colorado.edu) with any thoughts or questions regarding next year’s water forum.

To access recordings of panel discussions from May 1st, please click here.

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GWC Welcomes New Water Law Fellow Tyanne Benallie

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:54:43 +0000

GWC Welcomes New Water Law Fellow Tyanne Benallie Annie Carlozzi Wed, 04/01/2026 - 15:54

Colorado Law is ranked seventh in the nation for environmental law with the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC) advancing its commitment to educating young leaders through the Water Law Fellows Program. Now in its fifth year, the program addresses the rising demand for thoughtful policy initiatives at all levels of government by training the next generation of outstanding leaders in sustainable water management, water law, and policy.

With the accelerated need to address extraordinary circumstances in an unprecedented era, Colorado Law and the GWC are uniquely situated as a premier pipeline of diverse future leaders in environmental and natural resources matters.

The Water Law Fellows Program is not just an educational experience — it’s a career accelerator. This intensive multidisciplinary program equips Fellows with the skills and knowledge to produce high-quality work that influences law reform in the public interest, setting them up for successful careers in environmental law and policy.

Fellows conduct reform-oriented research on the most pressing issues in their field and interact with public and private sector leaders to inform policymaking, all while under the mentorship of leading researchers. Colorado Law and the GWC are known for distinguished faculty, a long record of public service, an extraordinary body of research and an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes unique on-the-ground learning.

The Getches-Wilkinson Center is thrilled to announce that Tyanne Benallie will be joining the team as a Water Law Fellow in August 2026. Tyanne Benallie (Ty) is a member of the Diné Nation, born for the Tó’ahaní (Near the Water Clan) and born into Naashashí (Bear Clan), with family roots in the Bisti region (Checkerboard) of northwest New Mexico. Raised in Albuquerque, she developed an early appreciation for diverse cultures, which has led her to travel to 43 countries.

Ty holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fort Lewis College, with a minor in Spanish, and an M.A. in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. She has dedicated her career to working with resilient populations, bringing expertise in Indigenous capacity-building initiatives and policy across environmental, social, education, and health sectors. Her experience includes work in tribal communities, roles in Washington, D.C., and volunteer service in developing countries.

She will graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of New Mexico School of Law in May 2026, along with dual certificates in Indian Law and Natural Resources and Environmental Law. Outside her studies and work, Ty enjoys traveling, running, hiking, skiing, ice skating, yoga, photography, writing, film, reading, music, and time with family. Ahé’héé.

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Advanced Natural Resources Seminar Explores the Colorado Plateau

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:03:58 +0000

Advanced Natural Resources Seminar Explores the Colorado Plateau Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/30/2026 - 14:03

Celeste Baro , Sydney Stellato

After an approximately seven-hour drive from Boulder, we arrived at Dugout Ranch and the Canyonlands Research Center, tucked deep within canyon country near Bears Ears National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. We spent our first night under a sky full of stars, and in the morning, we woke from our tents surrounded by towering orange and red rock formations.

That morning, we met with Matt and Kristen Redd, managers of the Dugout Ranch and Canyonlands Research Center. In 1997, The Nature Conservancy worked with the Redd family to purchase the Dugout Ranch, securing a major conservation win and protecting important lands and waters from development. Later, in 2009, The Nature Conservancy purchased the Dugout’s cattle herd for use as a research tool, and in 2010, a suite of partners formally launched the Canyonlands Research Center. Hearing about the ranch’s transformation into a living research laboratory showed us what collaborative conservation can look like in practice where ranching, science, and conservation all intersect.

While at the ranch, we also heard from Shaun Ketchum, a young Diné and Ute Mountain Ute leader and Director of the 100 Years of Silence Project. He shared the history behind the project, which seeks to illuminate a painful and little-known event in Ute history, when 80 Ute tribal members were rounded up and imprisoned in a barbed-wire camp near Blanding, Utah, based on false accusations. The project works to bring this history to light in order to promote public understanding and healing for Ute people.

We also hiked into Shay Canyon to view petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls. After our hike, we drove to Bluff, Utah, where we stayed for the night.

The following morning, we met Amanda Podmore, Conservation Director at the Grand Canyon Trust, for breakfast before heading out for a hike along Comb Ridge. There, we talked about the Trust’s work on Bears Ears National Monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, and their broader public lands and tribal outreach efforts across the Colorado Plateau.

From there, we made our way to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, where we stayed at the Grand Canyon Trust’s Kane Ranch. In September 2005, the Trust completed a historic transaction to purchase the grazing rights and base property of the Kane and Two-Mile Ranches in the heart of the Arizona Strip. Together, the ranches encompass 850,000 acres. Because current law requires that some cattle be grazed on the ranches, the Trust maintains a cattle operation while also carrying out an ambitious conservation program to assess and improve land health. They collect baseline data across different ecosystems—ponderosa pine forest, pinyon-juniper woodland, and wetlands—and track changes over time to guide restoration and management.

We spent the next two nights at Kane Ranch cooking meals together, wandering the fields, and watching the stars at night. During the day, we visited the proposed dam site in Marble Canyon and discussed ongoing Colorado River issues—water scarcity, drought, and the immense pressure placed on the river by the many communities and states that rely on it. We also drove to a condor viewing area, where we learned about the reintroduction of the California condor, an endangered species that once had a population of only about 20 individuals. Seeing condors soaring again over the canyon felt like a rare conservation success story. We also visited the White Sage Burn area and discussed pinyon-juniper management and changing fire regimes on the landscape.

The next morning, we drove to Page, Arizona, for a tour of Glen Canyon Dam with Bob Martin, Deputy Power Manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Authorized by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 and completed in 1963, Glen Canyon Dam was built to store water for Colorado River Compact requirements and generate hydroelectric power. Standing inside the dam, we talked about the future of Lake Powell and the very real possibility of the reservoir reaching “dead pool,” the level at which water can no longer flow through the dam, and even “power pool,” where hydropower generation would no longer be possible. These questions—about water storage, electricity, drought, and the ability of Upper Basin states to meet compact obligations—made clear just how much the modern West depends on this single river system.

After the tour, we continued to Tuba City, located on the border of the Navajo and Hopi reservations, reflecting on everything we had seen and learned over the past several days—about conservation, history, water, energy, and the many different people and communities connected to these landscapes.

Tuba City happened to be the city that Professor Krakoff began her career in American Indian Law, working for DNA People’s Legal Services for three years. We visited her home when she lived in Tuba City – an old Mormon settlement with tall poplar trees. We got to see Newspaper Rock – a popular site for petroglyphs from various historical tribes that used the rock to communicate with each other. We spoke with women from Change Labs – a non-profit working on giving resources to Native run businesses through providing business coaching, microloans, and a workspace for people to work out of. They work with all different types of businesses to help make sure that businesses on the reservation can thrive. This was complimented by a talk with Amber Benally and Ethan Aumack who highlighted the Grand Canyon Trust’s Just Transition Program focused on helping tribes that benefitted from coal mining to transition to non-extractive industries.

At Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, we spoke to Bidtah Becker, the Chief Legal Counsel for the President and Vice President, about current water rights settlements happening on the Colorado River, the Navajo Nation’s water settlement, and how the two are intertwined. We also got to speak with one of the Navajo Nation’s hydrologists who explained the science of the water settlement to us. Finally, we had lunch in town with Navajo tacos, a specialty on the Nation. We stopped by the home of Deon Ben, the Native America Director, who talked about his work with the Grand Canyon Trust and working on coalition building for Southwest Tribes, including the tribes work with establishing and managing nearby National Monuments. He also allowed us to see into his home, a modern day hogan. Hogans are traditional dwellings of the Navajo people. Being able to see him living and working on his families homestead was a privilege.

On Thursday, we left the Navajo Nation and went back into Colorado. We stayed in Ignasio, Colorado where we met with Lisa Yellow Eagle, and got to visit the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. We talked about the Southern Ute’s federally reserved water rights and the water projects that they and the BIA have on tribal property. Then we got to tour the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project (“PRITT”) and see the miles and miles of irrigation and canals that the tribe uses to get water. We discussed water settlements and how the water of Colorado has been used to support the tribe, and various economic avenues that the tribe has used to support itself. As an added benefit we got to see a bald eagle flying away!

Finally, we met with a former student of the seminar, who went on his own field seminar down by the Rio Grande when he attended Colorado Law. We had dinner with Dan McCarl who currently works for Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel. He has worked with the DOJ in the Environment & Natural Resource Division and Western Energy Project and had a very nuanced view into how various aspects of American Indian Law, energy law, and water law coincide. He offered insight into how to be an attorney working from different avenues to help achieve our goals.

We spent the night in Pagosa Springs before driving back up to Boulder on Friday. After eight days of learning and being on the road we were very excited to be back at Colorado Law to be able to put everything we learned about into action!

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Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:35:06 +0000

Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/30/2026 - 10:35

Eric Kuhn , Anne Castle , Carlos de la Parra , John Fleck , Jack Schmidt , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

With the existing Colorado River operating rules set to expire in nine months, the relationships among the Basin States have been the focus of much discussion and analysis, but the agreements between the US and Mexico governing their relationship are terminating at the same time. Discussions between the two countries are just ramping up, and there is a window of opportunity for new, creative arrangements that better reflect conditions on the River and make Mexico less dependent on what appears to be inevitable litigation in the US. This paper looks closely at the hydrology and hydrogeography of the Colorado River and suggests a shift from a fixed volume delivery obligation to one that equitably shares whatever water exists on a percentage basis.

Authors:
Eric Kuhn, Anne Castle, Carlos de la Parra, John Fleck, Jack Schmidt, Kathryn Sorensen and Katherine Tara

Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River

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Aden Choate and Leah Dory Named 2026 David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellows

Annie Carlozzi — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:24:26 +0000

Aden Choate and Leah Dory Named 2026 David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellows Annie Carlozzi Fri, 03/20/2026 - 14:24

University of Colorado Law School students Aden Choate ('28) and Leah Dory ('28) are this year’s David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellows. The Fellowship, initiated in 2010 by partners of the law firm of Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison and Woodruff, P.C. in honor David L. Harrison (Law ‘71), is awarded each year to a Colorado Law student on the basis of academic performance, commitment to public service, and interest in the study of water and energy law and policy. This year, for the first time, we are thrilled to support two Harrison Fellows.

Aden Choate is a first-year law student from Charleston, IL, with a keen interest in environmental governance and water law. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service in 2021, where she majored in Culture & Politics with a focus on political ecology in the Andean region. While studying abroad in Ecuador, she first encountered rights-of-nature frameworks, which the country codified in its 2008 constitution to grant legal rights to natural bodies. Before law school, Aden worked for three years as a journalist, most recently as a staff reporter in Provincetown, MA, covering local government. Her reporting on water-related conflicts sparked her interest in water law and its role in community governance. Through the Harrison Fellowship, she looks forward to advancing her understanding of rights-of-nature frameworks and comparative water law, and to building a foundation to further explore their applications for water security in the United States.

Leah Dory is a first-year law student interested in water law and policy. Inspired by growing up on a farm in Colorado, interning with a U.S. senator, and studying water policy in China, Leah is interested in the ways law shapes our relationship to water, land, and one another. Through the Harrison Fellowship, Leah seeks to engage more deeply at the intersection of law and environmental systems while learning new ways to advance the sustainable management of water. Leah is a Student Deputy Director of the Acequia Assistance Project, the incoming Vice President of NALSA, and ELS Bar Association Liaison and Coordinator for the CU Undergraduate Colorado Water Fellows. When not reading for class, Leah climbs rocks, makes stained glass art, and plays in the snow.

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Samantha Crosby (Colorado Law '28) Named 2026 Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:44:46 +0000

Samantha Crosby (Colorado Law '28) Named 2026 Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow Annie Carlozzi Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:44

University of Colorado Law School student Samantha Crosby ('28) is this year’s Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow. The Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship, initiated in 2023 by leaders of the Conscience Bay Company, is awarded each year to a Colorado Law student on the basis of academic performance, commitment to public service, and interest in the study of Western water law and policy. To the extent practicable, each Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow will focus on a specific project in advancing innovative solutions for sustainable management of water in the Western United States.

Samantha Crosby is a 1L student at the University of Colorado Law School. She grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and spent a lot of her childhood on the water in Arizona — Bartlett Lake, Lake Powell, etc. Watching the Phoenix area expand despite water shortages led to her interest in water law. She hopes to explore the water policy issues impacting her new community in Colorado and her community back home in Arizona. She's hopeful that her research through the Fellowship will supplement her learning in the environmental classes she plans to take throughout her time at Colorado Law and give her an interesting perspective on the legal issues that impact Western water policy.

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Acequia Assistance Project Student Attorneys Attend 12th Annual Congreso de Acequias

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:37:36 +0000

Acequia Assistance Project Student Attorneys Attend 12th Annual Congreso de Acequias Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/09/2026 - 13:37

Leah Dory and Conor Hughes

Acequia Assistance Project student attorneys, along with MENV policy students, went to the San Luis Valley this month to attend the 12th annual Congreso de Acequias. While there, students met with their clients, experienced the local culture, and learned about the generational traditions of ranching and farming in the Valley. This visit allowed students to connect more deeply with the community and gain hands-on legal experience.

The trip to the Valley began on Friday afternoon with client meetings, where students met one-on-one with their clients regarding a variety of issues, such as bylaws and incorporations for acequias. These conversations grounded students' work in real relationships, offering a deeper understanding of the legal questions at hand. The team then rounded out the evening at the infamous Mrs. Rios for a Mexican/Thai dinner. This year, the group was joined by activist Shirley Romero Otero for an engaging dinner speech about the history of the Valley and the ongoing issues the Valley is facing.

Before the start of Congreso de Acequias at the local school, students went on a ditch and farm tour with local fifth-generation farmer, Aquino “Jerry” Gellegos. Students walked the People Ditch, Colorado's oldest continuously used ditch, with court decree priority number one from 1852, while Jerry shared the ditch’s importance to the community. Students then visited Jerry's cattle operation and met the cute new calves.

The main event, Congreso de Acequias, is an annual full-day conference that centers local voices, issues, and plans for the future. The event began with a bendición de las aguas – the blessing of the water – where water from each acequia in attendance was combined and blessed by a priest. The water was then poured into small jars and distributed to the community.The ceremony set the tone for the day, that water is not just as a resource, but something communal, cultural, and deeply relational.

The first presentation was from the Division of Water Resources, which examined the forecasted flows in the area. This bleak forecast was followed by a cautionary presentation from Gerald Romero, who shared about surviving and rebuilding in the aftermath of the Hermit Peak Calf Canyon fire in northern New Mexico. Drawing parallels to the San Luis Valley, he offered both warning and guidance, emphasizing preparation, resilience, and community response in the face of increasing fire risk.
These stimulating presentations were followed by Acequia Assistance Project Director Gregor MacGregor’s invitation to community members in need of legal assistance to fill out a program intake form. The annual student art contest then presented awards to students from kindergarten to high school for the art they made representing water and the community. A delicious lunch, entirely composed of locally sourced food, followed.

The afternoon began with a discussion of beavers. While an integral part of the landscape and providing many watershed benefits, beavers have also been a thorn in the side of many irrigators in the Valley. A variety of solutions, “beaver deceivers,” have been created to promote coexistence between irrigators and beavers, such as culvert protectors and tree wrapping. Attendees then headed out to the field for a demonstration on two methods for improving soil health, no-till and fungal-rich compost.

Throughout the weekend, students took this opportunity to learn, listen, and build relationships with the community. These experiences will shape how they approach their clients and understand the broader significance of their work. The Acequia Assistance Project is grateful to all the community members who provided such a warm welcome to the students this year. Students are already looking forward to their next trip to the Valley!

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CBC Western Water Policy Fellowship - Now Accepting Applications!

Annie Carlozzi — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:59:56 +0000

CBC Western Water Policy Fellowship - Now Accepting Applications! Annie Carlozzi Tue, 02/17/2026 - 08:59

GWC is now accepting applications for the Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship.

Program Overview

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC) at the University of Colorado Law School is proud to announce the Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship for the 2026–27 academic year. This fellowship provides a Colorado Law student with hands-on experience in Western water law and as well as mentorship, professional development, and opportunities for scholarship and networking.

Key benefits include:

Legal research and writing, supported by GWC staff, focused on real-world water law challenges, including Colorado River management, interstate water governance, groundwater management, and Tribal water rights.
Mentorship from faculty, GWC staff, and practicing attorneys – opportunities to work alongside GWC’s Executive and Assistant Directors, the Director of GWC’s Western Water Policy Program, GWC’s Post-Grad Water Law Fellows, and access to GWC’s network of leaders on the Advisory Council.
Opportunities for original scholarship and publication.
Travel support for conferences and networking events.

Eligibility

Open to currently enrolled 1L and 2L students at Colorado Law.

Fellowship Stipend

The Fellow will work approximately 10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters at $20/hour. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate coursework and other commitments. The Fellow may begin working with GWC during the 2026 spring semester as scheduling permits.

Program Overview, Benefits and Application Process Available Here

Now accepting applications through March 1, 2026 at 11:59pm

For further information, please feel free to contact GWC Assistant Director, Annie Carlozzi at annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu or 303-492-1286.

Watch the Information Session Recording: In November, current GWC hosted a lunch and learn regarding these opportunities and invited current scholars and fellows to share their experience in their respective positions with interested students. If you are a current Colorado Law student, you can access that recording here.

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Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:34:41 +0000

Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines Annie Carlozzi Mon, 01/26/2026 - 14:34

Assigned Water programs in the Colorado River system, like Intentionally Created Surplus and Mexican Water Reserve, have created valuable flexibility in the Lower Basin. These programs mitigate the disincentive for conservation or saving water inherent in the prior appropriation system of water rights, the "use it or lose it" phenomenon. They have proved to be critical to managing volatility in water supplies and were an essential component of the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan.

During the two decades that Assigned Water has existed in the Colorado River, we have learned more about both the benefits of these programs and some of the problems with the specific rules through which they have been implemented. A group of Colorado River policy experts, dubbed the Traveling Wilburys of the Colorado River, has published a new paper discussing the advantages and drawbacks of existing Assigned Water programs and providing recommendations for designing a better system for the future, including a potential conservation pool in the Upper Basin.

An executive summary of the work is provided here, together with the complete discussion and rationale for specific recommendations.

Authors:
Kathryn Sorensen, Sarah Porter, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Katherine Tara

Executive Summary and Recommendations

Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines

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Colorado River Continues to Bring Unlikely Parties Together at CRWUA

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:51:40 +0000

Colorado River Continues to Bring Unlikely Parties Together at CRWUA Annie Carlozzi Mon, 12/29/2025 - 08:51

Daniel Anderson

Image by Lex Padilla

The Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference met in Las Vegas last week. Each year, over a thousand government officials, members of the press, municipal water district leaders, water engineers, ranchers, and tribal members meet to discuss the management of the mighty Colorado River. Hanging over the three-day conference was a stalemate between the upper and lower basin states over how to manage the Colorado River after current operational guidelines expire at the end of 2026.

Throughout the conference, the states’ inability to reach a consensus deal produced ripple effects. The stalemate held back progress on both near term shortage concerns (experts predict that Lake Powell will be only 28% full at the end of the ’25-’26 water year) and long-range planning, such as the development of the next “Minute” agreement between the United States and Mexico.

The closing act of CRWUA 2025 was an orderly (and familiar) report from each of the basin states’ principal negotiators that their state is stretched thin but remains committed to finding a consensus agreement. This final session had no discussion or Q&A. The basin states now have until February 14th to provide the Bureau of Reclamation with their consensus deal, which would presumably be added to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) draft that is expected to be released in early January. With time running short, many worry that public participation in the EIS process – vital to informed decision-making – will be greatly reduced.

Still, as Rhett Larson of Arizona State University said on the first day of the conference, “Desert rivers bring people together.” Tribal governments continue to innovate in the areas of conservation and storage, even in spite of ongoing challenges to meaningful access of federally reserved tribal water rights. For instance, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, or CRIT, shared news of a Resolution and Water Code recently passed by their Tribal Council which work together to recognize the Colorado River’s personhood under Tribal law. This provides CRIT with a holistic framework for on-reservation use and requires the consideration of the living nature of the Colorado River in off-reservation water leasing decisions. John Bezdek, who represented CRIT at the conference, put it this way: “If laws are an expression of values, then this tribal council is expressing to the world the importance of protecting and preserving the lifeblood of the Colorado River.” Among others, Celene Hawkins of The Nature Conservancy and Kate Ryan of the Colorado Water Trust also shared about the unique, and often unlikely, partnerships formed to protect stream flows and the riparian environment across the Colorado River basin.

Notwithstanding the basin states’ current deadlock, one theme rang true at CRWUA 2025: Despite the dire hydrologic and administrative realities facing decision-makers today, the Colorado River continues to bring unlikely parties together.

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