Utah Allocates $1 Million for Colorado River Litigation

State legislature prepares for potential legal battle over water rights

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Utah State Legislature has allocated $1 million for potential litigation over the Colorado River, signaling an escalation in the ongoing negotiations between the seven states that rely on the river's water. The move comes as the states struggle to reach a new agreement on water management, with the threat of federal intervention looming if a deal is not reached by a February 14 deadline.

Why it matters

The Colorado River is a critical water source for more than 40 million people in the western United States, and the negotiations over its management have major implications for agriculture, industry, and communities across the region. Utah's decision to set aside funds for litigation suggests the states may be unable to reach a consensus, potentially leading to a protracted legal battle that could further complicate efforts to ensure the river's long-term sustainability.

The details

The $1 million allocation was requested by Sen. David Hinkins, the chair of the legislature's Natural Resources Appropriations Committee. Hinkins said the state needs to be prepared to protect its water rights if the negotiations fail to produce a new agreement. Arizona's legislature is also considering a similar $1 million funding request for potential lawsuits. The seven states along the Colorado River have been in discussions for a new agreement, but the negotiations are reportedly going "slowly" as the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states trade demands for deeper cuts in water usage.

  • On Thursday, Sen. David Hinkins filed a request for $1 million in potential Colorado River litigation funding.
  • Last week, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum summoned the governors of the seven Colorado River states to a summit in Washington, D.C. in hopes of reaching a deal.
  • A deadline set by the Trump administration for a framework agreement is February 14, 2026.

The players

Sen. David Hinkins

The chair of the Utah State Legislature's powerful Natural Resources Appropriations Committee, who filed the request for $1 million in Colorado River litigation funding.

Doug Burgum

The U.S. Interior Secretary who summoned the governors of the seven Colorado River states to a summit in Washington, D.C. in hopes of reaching a new agreement.

Spencer Cox

The governor of Utah, who left the Washington, D.C. summit optimistic about the prospects of reaching a new Colorado River agreement.

Wade Garrett

The vice-president of the Utah Farm Bureau, who expressed support for the litigation funding request but also concerns about the potential impact on the agricultural community.

Steve Erickson

A representative of the Great Basin Water Network, who said the litigation funding request sends a "bad message" to the other states and could limit public input in the process.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just gotta pray for the best and prepare for the worst.”

— Sen. David Hinkins, Chair, Utah Natural Resources Appropriations Committee (fox13now.com)

“There's a lot of anxiety, if you will, in the farm community. They feel like sometimes people don't realize that food might be the most important thing we grow off the Colorado. They get even left out of some of this and then the thought of litigation really scares them.”

— Wade Garrett, Vice-President, Utah Farm Bureau (fox13now.com)

“It certainly doesn't send a very good message to our partners in the Colorado River compact. It could also wind up closing out any public input in the process and these are the people's waters across the states.”

— Steve Erickson, Great Basin Water Network (fox13now.com)

What’s next

The seven Colorado River states have until February 14, 2026 to reach a new agreement on water management. If no deal is reached by that deadline, the U.S. Interior Department has warned that it may start making decisions the states won't like.

The takeaway

The allocation of $1 million by the Utah State Legislature for potential Colorado River litigation highlights the growing tensions and uncertainty surrounding the negotiations to manage the river's water resources. With the threat of federal intervention looming, the states must find a way to compromise and reach a new agreement that balances the needs of agriculture, industry, and communities across the region.