After years of experimentation and pilot programs, the future of managing the Colorado River is taking shape, with a strong focus on permanent water conservation measures for the Upper Basin states. These states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—have submitted a refined proposal ahead of the March 2024 deadline on how water will be managed after the current guidelines expire in 2026.
This plan outlines a potential 200,000 acre-feet per year in water savings, drawing from conservation efforts and unused tribal water. While the specifics of these conservation efforts remain to be fully defined, Amy Ostdiek, Chief of the Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, expressed optimism about continued conservation activities across the region.
A key feature of the proposal is the creation of two water-savings accounts within Lake Powell. One of these, the Lake Powell Conservation Account, would store up to 200,000 acre-feet per year through conservation and unused tribal water. Another account, the Lake Powell Protection Account, would preserve water from upstream reservoirs like Flaming Gorge, Navajo, and Blue Mesa, to protect the lake when water levels fall below 3,535 feet in elevation.
These efforts are part of a broader approach to water management that officials refer to as “parallel activities,” which will be finalized through agreements separate from the new reservoir operation guidelines. Conservation will depend on annual hydrological conditions, with more water being saved during wetter years.
Over recent years, Upper Basin officials have resisted calls for significant cutbacks in water use, arguing that their states already experience shortages and have historically used less than their full allocation. In contrast, the Lower Basin states—California, Arizona, and Nevada—have faced criticism for exceeding their share. Despite this resistance, the Upper Basin has been exploring voluntary programs aimed at encouraging water users to reduce consumption. Programs like the System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) and Colorado’s demand management studies have offered some insight into potential solutions.
Earlier this year, competing proposals were submitted by each basin to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Lower Basin called for mandatory cuts during critical conditions, while the Upper Basin argued for a more equitable sharing of the river’s resources. These opposing views created a stalemate by the end of 2024, but recently, there have been reports that talks have resumed.
Becky Mitchell, a commissioner representing Colorado in the Colorado River Commission, confirmed at the Colorado Water Congress Annual Convention that discussions between the seven basin states are ongoing, with the aim of finding consensus.
Eric Kuhn, a renowned Colorado River expert, believes the Upper Basin’s proposal for water savings in Lake Powell is a positive sign of progress. “This could be a significant step forward, showing a shift toward compromise,” he remarked.
Despite previous concerns that conservation efforts would remain temporary and voluntary, officials are now acknowledging that a permanent conservation program is increasingly likely due to ongoing water shortages and the effects of climate change. “A permanent program is all but certain,” said Amy Haas, Executive Director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah.
Concerns Over Western Slope Impact
While the push for water conservation moves forward, concerns from Colorado’s Western Slope remain. The Colorado River Water Conservation District, which serves 15 counties on the Western Slope, has long voiced concerns that the impacts of conservation programs may disproportionately affect agricultural communities in the region.
In particular, there are fears that Front Range cities, with their junior water rights and greater financial resources, could “buy and dry” water from Western Slope farms, using conservation efforts to protect themselves from future cutbacks. Andy Mueller, General Manager of the River District, is advocating for guidelines to ensure that conservation programs do not harm these rural communities.
The River District has called for more direct influence over how conservation efforts are implemented in the state, asking for rules that ensure water savings from the Western Slope are not solely stored in Lake Powell but are instead more equitably distributed.
Utah’s Demand Management Program
Utah is already taking steps toward a more permanent conservation solution. With a $4 million budget, the state has launched a two-year pilot demand-management program, which compensates irrigators to reduce water use, adopt more efficient irrigation techniques, or release water from reservoirs downstream. Utah’s program is focused on tracking water saved in Lake Powell, an issue that plagued the SCPP in its earlier years.
So far, Utah has received 26 applications for participation in 2025. The state believes that in order to make long-term commitments to conservation after 2026, it must demonstrate its ability to account for saved water effectively.
While Colorado conducted its own study into a demand-management program, the state has since paused its efforts. Federal agencies are also aligning with the notion of conservation in the Upper Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation recently released a report outlining five possible alternatives for future water management, with three of those options including provisions for storing up to 200,000 acre-feet annually in Lake Powell.
As the seven basin states continue to negotiate future management, the exact amount of water to be conserved each year will depend largely on hydrological conditions. “We’ll save more water in wetter years, but we won’t always be able to reach 200,000 acre-feet,” Ostdiek explained.
As the deadline for new water management guidelines approaches, the negotiations remain ongoing, with each state hoping to protect its interests while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River system.
