Overview
- The seven basin states failed to reach a consensus by the Feb. 14 target, prompting Interior to move forward with federal management options after a second missed deadline.
- The Bureau of Reclamation released its Post‑2026 Draft Environmental Impact Statement focused on operations of Glen Canyon and Hoover dams, with federal action possible if no unified state plan emerges.
- New federal projections warn Lake Powell could reach “dead pool” as early as summer under dry conditions, with a most‑probable scenario later in the year, and Lake Mead outlooks remain worsening.
- A durable split persists between Lower Basin states offering significant reductions (Arizona 27%, California 10%, Nevada nearly 17%) and Upper Basin states resisting mandatory cuts, each citing distinct legal authorities.
- Experts and officials anticipate lawsuits over any imposed plan, and junior‑priority Central Arizona Project users—serving Phoenix–Tucson and cities like Scottsdale—are viewed as especially vulnerable to deep cuts.