Javascript is required to use this website.

Feds release draft long-term plans for Colorado River management

By Jeniffer Solis, Nebraska Examiner
Jan 12, 2026
Jan 12, 2026

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Jeniffer Solis, Nebraska Examiner

Amid stalled state negotiations over how to share the Colorado River’s dwindling water supply, the Bureau of Reclamation on Friday released a range of options that will serve as the foundation for how to manage the river’s largest reservoirs – Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

kAm%96 9:89=J 2?E:4:A2E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD3C]8@G^r@=@C25@#:G6Cq2D:?^A@DEa_ae^5C27E\6:D^5@4D^6I64FE:G6\DF>>2CJ^!ae\stx$\tI64\$F>>2CJ]A57Qm`[e__\A286 5@4F>6?Ek^2m 56E2:=D 7:G6 2=E6C?2E:G6 AC@A@D2=D E92E H:== 8F:56 ?6H H2E6C >2?286>6?E CF=6D E@ C6A=246 E96 4FCC6?E @?6D D6E E@ 6IA:C6 :? pF8FDE a_ae] %96 AC@A@D2=D AC:>2C:=J 7@4FD @? E96 @A6C2E:@? @7 {2<6 |625’D w@@G6C s2> 2?5 {2<6 !@H6==’D v=6? r2?J@? s2>]k^Am

kAm%96 D6G6? DE2E6D E92E D92C6 E96 C:G6C’D 7=@HD 92G6 366? 5625=@4<65 7@C ?62C=J EH@ J62CD @G6C 9@H E@ 8@G6C? E96 H2E6CH2J E9C@F89 E96 4@>:?8 564256D — 6G6? 2D H2E6C =6G6=D 2E {2<6 |625 2?5 {2<6 !@H6== 2C6 7@C642DE65 E@ C6249 C64@C5 =@HD 27E6C EH@ DEC2:89E J62CD @7 5:D2AA@:?E:?8 D?@HA24< 24C@DD E96 (6DE]k^Am

kAm%96 2=E6C?2E:G6D :?4=F56 2 4@>A=:2?46 @AE:@? E92E 4@F=5 36 :>A=6>6?E23=6 :? a_af :7 DE2E6D 42?’E C6249 2 D6G6?\DE2E6 28C66>6?E @? 9@H E@ D92C6 E96 C:G6C’D H2E6C DFAA=J[ 9@H6G6C F?56C E92E 2=E6C?2E:G6 }6G252[ pC:K@?2[ 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2 H@F=5 7246 H2E6C D9@CE286D FA E@ `]cg >:==:@? 24C6\766E]k^Am

kAm“%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 E96 x?E6C:@C :D >@G:?8 7@CH2C5 H:E9 E9:D AC@46DD E@ 6?DFC6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@>A=:2?46 :D :? A=246 D@ @A6C2E:@?D 42? 4@?E:?F6 H:E9@FE :?E6CCFAE:@? H96? E96 4FCC6?E 8F:56=:?6D 6IA:C6[” p?5C62 %C2G?:46<[ E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 2DD:DE2?E D64C6E2CJ 7@C H2E6C 2?5 D4:6?46[ D2:5 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD3C]8@G^?6HDC@@>^?6HD\C6=62D6^daebQm2 ?6HD C6=62D6k^2m uC:52J] “%96 C:G6C 2?5 E96 c_ >:==:@? A6@A=6 H9@ 56A6?5 @? :E 42??@E H2:E] x? E96 7246 @7 2? @?8@:?8 D6G6C6 5C@F89E[ :?24E:@? :D ?@E 2? @AE:@?]”k^Am

kAmp?J 8F:56=:?6D 25@AE65 7@C A@DE\a_ae r@=@C25@ #:G6C @A6C2E:@?D 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 7246 2? 62C=J E6DE H:E9 7@C642DED 2?E:4:A2E:?8 =@H 6=6G2E:@?D 2E {2<6 !@H6== 2?5 {2<6 |625 :? a_af] {2<6D !@H6== 2?5 |625 2C6 4FCC6?E=J =6DD E92? EH@\E9:C5D 7F==[ H9:=6 AC@;64E:@?D D9@H E96 C:G6C’D :?7=@H ?6IE J62C :D =:<6=J E@ 36 afT =@H6C E92? ?@C>2=]k^Am

kAm(:E9@FE 2 DEC@?8 H:?E6C D?@H D62D@?[ :E’D A@DD:3=6 {2<6 !@H6==’D =6G6=D 4@F=5 5C@A =@H 6?@F89 E@ 462D6 9J5C@A@H6C AC@5F4E:@? 3J ?6IE ~4E@36C — 2 D46?2C:@ E92E H@F=5 2=D@ =:>:E E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 23:=:EJ E@ D6?5 H2E6C 5@H?DEC62> E@ }6G252[ pC:K@?2[ 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am

kAm}68@E:2E:@?D 36EH66? 7656C2= @77:4:2=D 2?5 E96 D6G6? H6DE6C? DE2E6D E92E C6=J @? E96 r@=@C25@ #:G6C 92G6 =2C86=J C6>2:?65 369:?5 4=@D65 5@@CD D:?46 a_ab[ 3FE 2?J ?6H @A6C2E:?8 CF=6D 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 2 AF3=:4 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6H AC@46DD 367@C6 2 7:?2= 564:D:@? 42? 36 >256]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@A@D2=D C6=62D65 uC:52J H6C6 A2CE @7 E96 }2E:@?2= t?G:C@?>6?E2= !@=:4J p4E W}t!pX AC@46DD[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 2 sC27E t?G:C@?>6?E2= x>A24E $E2E6>6?E 2?2=JK:?8 E96 :>A24ED @7 E96 AC@A@D2=D] k^Am

kAm$6G6C2= C:G6C ?68@E:2E@CD D2:5 E96J 92G6 ?@E J6E C6G:6H65 E96 =6?8E9J 5@4F>6?E AF3=:D965 =2E6 uC:52J[ 2?5 4@F=5 ?@E 8:G6 2 56E2:=65 2?2=JD:D @7 E96 AC@A@D2=D]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 C6G:6H:?8 E96 5C27E tx$[ 2?5 H6 6IA64E E@ 36 :? 2 A@D:E:@? E@ AC@G:56 4@>>6?ED ?6IE H66<] (6’5 =:<6 E@ 8:G6 2 E9@C@F89 C6G:6H 367@C6 H6 4@>>6?E[” D2:5 qC@?D@? |24<[ 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C }6G252’D 49:67 C:G6C ?68@E:2E@C 2?5 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 E96 $@FE96C? }6G252 (2E6C pFE9@C:EJ y@9? t?ED>:?86C]k^Am

kAm&E29’D 49:67 C:G6C ?68@E:2E@C v6?6 $92H4C@7E 649@65 E9@D6 4@>>6?ED]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
Snap2Graze: grazing cereal rye really can be that simple
Haugen Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic

kAm“%96 pFE9@C:EJ H:== E2<6 E96 E:>6 ?646DD2CJ E@ 7F==J 6G2=F2E6 E96 5@4F>6?E 367@C6 @776C:?8 56E2:=65 4@>>6?ED[” $92H4C@7E D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am

kAm$92H4C@7E 42==65 E96 C6=62D6 @7 E96 5C27E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E DE2E6>6?E 7@C A@DE\a_ae r@=@C25@ #:G6C @A6C2E:@?D “2? :>A@CE2?E >:=6DE@?6 :? 2 4@>A=6I 2?5 4@?D6BF6?E:2= AC@46DD]”k^Am

kAm“%96 pFE9@C:EJ =@@<D 7@CH2C5 E@ 42C67F==J C6G:6H:?8 E96 5C27E 2?5 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ H@C< H:E9 @FC q2D:? $E2E6 A2CE?6CD[ H2E6C FD6CD[ %C:36D[ 2?5 E96 qFC62F @7 #64=2>2E:@? E@ 96=A 6?DFC6 7FEFC6 @A6C2E:@?D AC@E64E &E29 H2E6C FD6CD[ DFAA@CE E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 C67=64E &E29’D AC:@C:E:6D[” 96 4@?E:?F65]k^Am

kAmx? 2? F?FDF2= >@G6[ E96 5C27E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E DE2E6>6?E 5:5 ?@E :56?E:7J H9:49 D6E @7 @A6C2E:?8 8F:56=:?6D E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E H@F=5 AC676C] p AC676CC65 2=E6C?2E:G6 :D EJA:42==J :?4=F565 :? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6HD] k^Am

kAm“v:G6? E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 2 4@?D6?DFD\32D65 2AAC@249 E@ @A6C2E:@?D 7@C E96 DE23:=:EJ @7 E96 DJDE6>[ #64=2>2E:@? 92D ?@E J6E :56?E:7:65 2 AC676CC65 2=E6C?2E:G6[” D2:5 p4E:?8 qFC62F @7 #64=2>2E:@? r@>>:DD:@?6C $4@EE r2>6C@? :? 2 DE2E6>6?E uC:52J]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 5C27E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6H 5@6D :?4=F56 2 3C@25 C2?86 @7 A@DD:3=6 2=E6C?2E:G6D 56D:8?65 E@ 6?23=6 DE2E6D E@ 4@?E:?F6 H@C<:?8 E@H2C5D 2 D6G6?\DE2E6 4@?D6?DFD 28C66>6?E @? 9@H E@ D92C6 E96 C:G6C’D D9C:?<:?8 H2E6C DFAA=J]k^Am

kAm“#64=2>2E:@? 2?E:4:A2E6D E92E H96? 2? 28C66>6?E :D C624965[ :E H:== :?4@CA@C2E6 6=6>6?ED @C G2C:2E:@?D @7 E96D6 7:G6 2=E6C?2E:G6D 2?5 H:== 36 7F==J 2?2=JK65 :? E96 u:?2= tx$ 6?23=:?8 E96 DFDE2:?23=6 2?5 67764E:G6 >2?286>6?E @7 E96 r@=@C25@ #:G6C[” r2>6C@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm$E2E6D’ =2DE 492?46 E@ D92C6 2 7:?2= 4@?D6?DFD\32D65 A=2? H:== 36 >:5\u63CF2CJ a_ae :? @C56C E@ C6249 2 7:?2= 28C66>6?E :? E96 DF>>6C[ H:E9 :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 E96 ?6H 8F:56=:?6D 368:??:?8 :? ~4E@36C a_ae]k^Am

kAm$E2E6D 2=@?8 E96 r@=@C25@ #:G6C 92G6 366? DA=:E :?E@ EH@ 42>AD 7@C >@?E9D @G6C 9@H E@ >2?286 E96 C:G6C 27E6C a_aei pC:K@?2[ r2=:7@C?:2[ 2?5 }6G252 :? E96 {@H6C q2D:?j 2?5 r@=@C25@[ }6H |6I:4@[ &E29 2?5 (J@>:?8 :? E96 &AA6C q2D:?]k^Am

kAm~?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 5:D28C66>6?ED 36EH66? E96 &AA6C 2?5 {@H6C q2D:? DE2E6D :D @G6C H9:49 724E:@? D9@F=5 92G6 E@ 4FE 324< @? E96:C H2E6C FD6[ 2?5 3J 9@H >F49]k^Am

kAm{@H6C q2D:? DE2E6D H2?E 2== D6G6? r@=@C25@ #:G6C DE2E6D E@ D92C6 >2?52E@CJ H2E6C 4FED 5FC:?8 5CJ J62CD F?56C E96 ?6H 8F:56=:?6D] %96 &AA6C q2D:?[ H9:49 :D ?@E DF3;64E E@ >2?52E@CJ 4FED F?56C 4FCC6?E 8F:56=:?6D[ D2J E96J 2=C625J FD6 >F49 =6DD H2E6C E92? 5@H?DEC62> DE2E6D 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E 7246 255:E:@?2= 4FED]k^Am

kAm%96 AF3=:4 4@>>6?E A6C:@5 @? E96 A@DE\a_ae 2=E6C?2E:G6D CF?D 7C@> y2?] `e E@ |2C49 a] #64=2>2E:@? H:== 2=D@ 9@=5 EH@ G:CEF2= AF3=:4 >66E:?8D E@ AC@G:56 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 5C27E[ D4965F=65 7@C y2?] ah 2?5 u63] `_]k^Am

k5:G 4=2DDlQD?C!F3}@E6Qmk^5:Gm

This story was originally produced by Nevada Current, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Aaron Sanderford for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com.