Santa Fe, New Mexico | November 12–14, 2025
Nearly 30 western state legislators gathered in Santa Fe for the 5th Annual Colorado River Forum at a pivotal moment for the basin. With the current operating guidelines expiring in 2026—and the river’s hydrology steadily declining—lawmakers, experts, tribal leaders, and water managers spent three days digging into what the next century of Colorado River management must look like.
1. The Urgency of 2026
“We need to evolve and adapt to solve the math problem.”
– Chuck Cullom, Upper Colorado River Commission
Across the forum, one message was unmistakable: the clock is running out. Without new post-2026 operating agreements, the basin defaults back to outdated 1970 criteria that cannot meet the challenges of modern hydrology, climate change, or the 40 million people who depend on the river.
Legislators underscored that new frameworks must balance:
- Upper and lower basin responsibilities
- Tribal water rights and sovereignty
- Agricultural, municipal, and environmental needs
- Binational commitments with Mexico
- Flexibility for a hotter, drier future
In short: the math no longer works, and the basin must redesign how it uses and manages water.
2. Tribal Water Rights at the Center of Decision-Making
Tribal leaders emphasized that tribes were excluded from the 1922 Compact—and must not be excluded again. Collectively representing nearly 4 million acre-feet of water, tribes are key partners—both legally and practically.
Forum discussions highlighted the need for:
- Mandatory tribal consultation
- Tribes as equal participants in governance
- Tools for sovereign-to-sovereign water transactions
- Investments to address infrastructure gaps and climate vulnerabilities
The message was clear: no durable post-2026 agreement is possible without tribal leadership at the table.
3. Innovation Is Expanding What’s Possible
“We have to be ready for extreme weather.”
– Tanya Trujillo, New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
From snowpack monitoring to aquifer recharge to solar-covered canals, the basin is rapidly advancing the technologies needed to stretch scarce water supplies.
Highlights included:
- Airborne snow surveys and radar-based precipitation tracking
- 3D-printed sensors for real-time groundwater data
- Aquifer recharge strategies showing 20–50% efficiency gains
- New research on dust-driven snowmelt
- Desalination, brackish water treatment, and modular technologies
Innovation alone won’t solve the basin’s structural deficit—but it can buy time and create new pathways for cooperation.
4. Conservation Success Stories Show What Works
States and water districts shared major conservation achievements, many of which can serve as models for regional replication.
Examples included:
- Imperial Irrigation District: 16% reduction in water use; 500,000 acre-feet conserved annually
- Phoenix: Using less water today despite population growth
- Colorado & New Mexico: Robust water education programs shaping the next generation of water leaders
- Agricultural Innovation: Drip irrigation, deficit irrigation, crop switching, and solar canal covers
The forum emphasized that conservation is possible at scale when it is well-funded, science-driven, and locally supported.
5. Education Is a Powerful Tool
A major theme this year: decision-makers and the public need deeper water literacy.
States shared proven approaches:
- New Mexico’s Water Leaders Education Program
- Colorado’s Master Irrigators class
- On-the-ground field trips for legislators
- Proposed “Water 101” programs
This push for education is not just about information—it’s about building the political will for difficult water decisions.
6. Funding Must Be Long-Term and Predictable
States are making major investments:
- New Mexico: ~$400M in water priorities
- Arizona: ~$1B for infrastructure and conservation
- Colorado: Need for $1.5B through 2050
But traditional revenue sources—like oil and gas—are declining, prompting states to explore:
- Legacy and trust funds
- Dedicated conservation revenue streams
- Public-private partnerships
- Federal collaboration
Legislators agreed: water security requires stable, multi-decade funding.
7. Binational Cooperation With Mexico Remains Essential
Mexico’s Commissioner to the IBWC emphasized that both nations face the same hydrologic realities—and both must develop a new agreement by 2027.
Key elements going forward include:
- Drought-sharing frameworks
- Environmental flows
- Desalination strategies
- Strengthened bilateral working groups
The last 15 years have transformed friction into trust. Preserving that momentum is vital.
8. The Basin’s Structural Deficit Requires Hard Choices
Legal allocations total 16 million acre-feet—but the river produces only ~11.6 million on average. No amount of technology or efficiency alone can close this gap.
Future solutions must include:
- Demand management
- New conservation pools
- Flexible water transactions
- Smarter reservoir operations
- Potential reductions in legal allocations
Legislators expressed appreciation for candid conversations that acknowledge the scale of the challenge.
9. The Next Generation Must Be Part of the Solution
Several members proposed formal youth engagement in future forums—through 4-H, agriculture and STEM programs, student delegations, and other partners. With 2026 decisions shaping the next century, today’s young people must understand and inform the decisions being made now.
10. States Agree: Speak With One Voice
States repeatedly emphasized the need for unified western positions when engaging the federal government on funding, operations, and long-term management. While each state has unique concerns, the basin’s challenges demand cooperation.
The forum’s collaborative environment—where legislators share ideas, challenges, and innovations—remains one of its greatest strengths.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The path to 2026 will require:
- Strong tribal partnerships
- Cross-state collaboration
- Bold conservation strategies
- New funding mechanisms
- Continued binational coordination
- Clear communication with constituents
- Willingness to make difficult but necessary choices
The 2026 Colorado River Forum, to be held in California, will focus on:
- Brackish water and desalination
- Water-energy nexus (including data center impacts)
- Forest management and water yield
- Alternative crops and regenerative agriculture
- Updated tribal water rights implementation
- Cost-benefit frameworks for conservation decisions
- Status of post-2026 negotiations
Final Thoughts
This year’s Forum reaffirmed what the West has long understood: the Colorado River is both a lifeline and a shared responsibility. The decisions made over the next two years will shape water security, economic resilience, and environmental health for millions of people.
But the spirit of cooperation in Santa Fe—echoing the legacy of 1922—offers hope. Legislators left with a shared understanding, new tools, and a deeper sense of collective purpose.
The Colorado River’s future depends on sustained collaboration, honest accounting of limits, and innovative strategies that honor the people and environments that rely on it. The 2025 Forum moved the basin one step closer to that future.
Learn More
View the full 2025 Colorado River Forum Summary Report: