From November 17-20, legislators from the Colorado River Basin states convened in Phoenix, Arizona, for the annual CSG West Colorado River Forum (CRF). The meeting, which provided participating policymakers an opportunity to hear critical updates on the Colorado River, was led by Nevada Assemblymember Howard Watts, co-chair of the CRF.
Legislators heard from officials of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the current hydrology of the Colorado River system and the progress on new operating guidelines. Despite some impressive inflows in 2023 and 2024, and ongoing conservation measures, the overall storage levels in the system are at 36%.
There are several proposals pending with the Bureau of Reclamation through its public engagement process for new operation guidelines that will:
- support proactive management to improve system stability
- withstand a broad range of future hydrologic conditions
- minimize system vulnerability and increase system resiliency
- focus on the long-term sustainability of both the Basin’s population and natural
environment
- consider alternative operational paradigms beyond the current tier-based approach
At the time of the meeting, the Bureau of Reclamation released a statement that five proposals had been selected for further analysis as part of the Post-2026 Operations for the Colorado River. See the Bureau of Reclamation’s news release HERE.
Energy, water use and agriculture in the lower basin came into sharp focus during the meeting. Water banking, diverse energy sources, solar covered canals, and irrigation district practices were discussed in detail. Arizona Representative (now Senator-elect) Tim Dunn brought key stakeholders to explain the genesis, implementation and evaluation of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. This overview on how to make real change in water use to achieve conservation goals included how the law was written and successfully passed, and the role of farmers, ranchers, irrigators, and the University of Arizona in putting the program to work and measuring its effectiveness.
Before adjourning, legislators from the upper and lower Basins caucused to select the states that will co-chair the Colorado River Forum during the 2025-26 biennium. With great excitement and anticipation, New Mexico and California were selected to serve as co-chairs. The 2025 convening of the CRF will be hosted by New Mexico Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, the elected upper basin co-chair. The 2026 meeting will convene in California.
The meeting wrapped up with a tour that featured water infrastructure, irrigation canals and pumps, the Maricopa Agriculture Center, experimental research fields, and drone demonstrations by the University of Arizona Extension and its partners.
Photos and presentations, as well as the full meeting program, may be viewed
HERE. A big thank you to Arizona Senator-Elect Dunn and Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope for their insights and support in the planning of the meeting, and to all of our sponsors.