Colorado River Governors Meet in DC, No Deal Yet on Water Rights

Arizona governor says progress made, but Upper Basin states still resist mandatory water cuts

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs joined other Colorado River basin leaders in Washington for talks aimed at averting a federally imposed water-sharing deal. The meeting ended without a deal, though Hobbs said she was encouraged by the Upper Basin governors' willingness to consider water conservation programs. The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people in seven states, but drought and overuse have severely depleted its supply in recent years.

Why it matters

The Colorado River is a critical water source for the Southwest, and the inability of the seven basin states to reach a new water-sharing agreement threatens the long-term viability of the river. Failure to reach a deal could lead to the federal government imposing its own solution, which could have significant impacts on water allocation and usage across the region.

The details

Arizona gets roughly 40% of its water from the Colorado River, and the state had offered 1.5 million acre-feet of cuts from the outset of talks. However, the Upper Basin states - Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming - have resisted any mandatory cuts. The river's total supply has only reached 12.5 million acre-feet in the last decade, less than half the amount needed for each state to take its full 1922 allocation. Demand has been steadily increasing across the Southwest even as reservoir levels drop.

  • The meeting took place on January 30, 2026.
  • The seven states have until February 14, 2026 to reach a new water-sharing agreement before the federal government imposes its own solution.

The players

Katie Hobbs

The Democratic governor of Arizona, who has been critical of the Upper Basin states and is pushing for a new water-sharing agreement that protects Arizona's interests.

Jared Polis

The governor of Colorado, one of the Upper Basin states that has resisted mandatory water cuts.

Doug Burgum

The U.S. Interior Secretary who hosted the meeting of Colorado River basin leaders and is pushing for a consensus-based solution.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, who sent his state's natural resources secretary to the meeting instead of attending in person.

Andrea Gerlak

A professor at the University of Arizona and director of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, who says a long-term solution is still needed despite some incremental progress.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was encouraged to hear Upper Basin governors express a willingness to turn water conservation programs into firm commitments of water savings.”

— Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona (Social media)

“We have offered sacrifices to ensure the long-term viability of the Colorado River and we remain committed to working collaboratively to find solutions that protect water for our state, while supporting the vitality of the Colorado River and everyone who depends on it.”

— Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado (Statement)

“This is one of the toughest challenges facing the West, but the Department remains hopeful that, by working together, the seven basin governors can help deliver a durable path forward. We are committed to partnering with them to reach consensus.”

— Doug Burgum, U.S. Interior Secretary (Statement)

What’s next

The seven basin states have until February 14, 2026 to reach a new water-sharing agreement before the federal government imposes its own solution.

The takeaway

The inability of the Colorado River basin states to reach a new water-sharing agreement highlights the growing tensions and challenges around managing the river's dwindling supply. While progress was made in the latest meeting, the fundamental disagreements between the Upper and Lower Basin states remain, raising the prospect of a federally imposed solution that could have significant impacts on water usage across the region.