Response to Colorado River Basin States’ Not Reaching a Consensus Agreement for River Management by the Bureau of Reclamation Deadline
Statement from Celene Hawkins, The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Program Director
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Lena Rueck
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November 11th marked the deadline set by the Bureau of Reclamation for Colorado River Basin states to come to a consensus agreement on management of the Colorado River after 2026; they were unable to meet that deadline. Below is The Nature Conservancy’s response to this announcement.
“It is disappointing that the Colorado River Basin states could not reach a consensus proposal for Colorado River management by the deadline. As we face a hotter and drier future, communities, ecosystems and economies are all at risk. If we do not care properly for the river and its ecosystems and move toward more sustainable management of the Colorado River—we will see increasingly serious impacts to our communities and environment from catastrophic wildfires, rivers that are completely drying up in spots and reservoirs that can no longer carry us through the lean and dry years.
“We need to continue collaborating toward a long-term management agreement. The future economic success of the American Southwest requires long-term water sustainability, and collaboration is key. Partnerships bring innovation, shared ideas and buy-in and, ultimately, give everyone a voice and a stake in the future of the Basin.
“We urge our federal leaders and the states to continue working to find a balance that will help maintain thriving communities, healthy watersheds and strong economies across the Basin while also ensuring the health of the river.”
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.