Nevada Leaders Frustrated as Colorado River Deadline Passes

Arizona, California and Nevada governors urge all seven basin states to share responsibility for water conservation

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Another federal deadline has passed without an agreement between the seven Colorado River Basin states on new conservation guidelines. The three Lower Basin governors - Joe Lombardo of Nevada, Gavin Newsom of California, and Katie Hobbs of Arizona - released a joint statement expressing their frustration and emphasizing the need for all seven basin states to share the responsibility of water conservation. The states have failed to reach a consensus-based agreement, and the severity of water reductions will likely be decided by federal government officials or judges.

Why it matters

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for the western United States, supporting communities, economies, and agriculture across multiple states. The failure to reach an agreement on new conservation guidelines puts the long-term sustainability of the river at risk, with potentially significant consequences for the affected states and their residents.

The details

The three Lower Basin governors stated that their states represent 75% of the population, employment, and agricultural crop sales of the Colorado River basin, as well as 25 of the 30 sovereign Tribal Nations that live within the basin. They have agreed to new allocation reductions, with Arizona offering to reduce its Colorado River allocation by 27%, California by 10%, and Nevada by nearly 17%. However, the seven basin states have failed to reach a consensus-based agreement, despite the federal government's target date of February 14 to do so.

  • The current Colorado River operating guidelines expire at the end of 2026.
  • The federal government established a target date of February 14, 2026, for the seven basin states to reach a consensus-based agreement.

The players

Joe Lombardo

The Governor of Nevada.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California.

Katie Hobbs

The Governor of Arizona.

John Entsminger

The Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager and Nevada's lead Colorado River negotiator.

Bureau of Reclamation

The federal agency that established the target date for the seven basin states to reach a consensus-based agreement.

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What they’re saying

“The Colorado River is essential to our communities and economies, and our states have conserved large volumes of water in recent years to stabilize the basin's water supplies for years to come.”

— Joe Lombardo, Gavin Newsom, and Katie Hobbs, Governors of Nevada, California, and Arizona (fox5vegas.com)

“The hard truth is that Nevada cannot solve the Colorado River's problems on our own. The result of our collective efforts is a sizable water 'savings account' that can help us weather the reductions.”

— John Entsminger, Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager and Nevada's lead Colorado River negotiator (fox5vegas.com)

What’s next

The seven Colorado River Basin states will continue negotiations to try to reach a consensus-based agreement on new conservation guidelines before the current operating guidelines expire at the end of 2026. If the states fail to reach an agreement, the severity of water reductions will likely be decided by federal government officials or judges.

The takeaway

The failure of the seven Colorado River Basin states to reach a consensus-based agreement on new conservation guidelines highlights the urgent need for all stakeholders to work together to find a sustainable solution for managing the river's water resources. The consequences of inaction could be severe, with potentially significant impacts on communities, economies, and the environment across the western United States.