Leadership from Utah and Wyoming recently met to focus on the Colorado River negotiations. U.S. Senators representing Utah, John Curtis and Mike Lee, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox were joined by Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon to discuss the future of the Colorado River Basin and the long-term management of critical water resources, including Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Lake Powell. “Upper Basin states share a strong interest in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River,” said Senator Curtis. “Meetings like today’s are important as we navigate practical, innovative, and bipartisan solutions to help address our water management challenges.” Senator Lee said, “The Colorado River is vital to the people, communities, and economies of the American West. As the Department of the Interior moves toward a post-2026 operating plan, it is essential that any solution respect existing law, recognize the realities facing the Upper Basin, and protect the ability of our states to develop and use the water to which they are entitled.” Governor Cox said, “Utah remains committed to a seven-basin-state solution that protects the long-term future of the Colorado River…We believe the best path forward is a fair, negotiated solution that keeps all states at the table and avoids years of costly litigation.”
