The 2026 Colorado River Reckoning, Explained
Seven states must agree on how to share a shrinking river after 2026. Here's what's at stake for 40 million people.
By AGUACYCLE News Room
The rules governing how the Colorado River is shared expire after 2026, and the seven states that depend on it are locked in a high-stakes negotiation to replace them.
A river that no longer adds up
The river was divided up a century ago based on flow estimates that turned out to be far too optimistic. Since 2000 it has lost roughly a fifth of its flow, and the two big reservoirs — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — have repeatedly approached critically low levels.
Upper Basin vs. Lower Basin
The Upper Basin states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) and the Lower Basin states (California, Arizona, Nevada) disagree sharply over who should shoulder the cuts. The outcome will shape water policy — and reuse investment — across the Southwest for decades.
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