Colorado's top water officials told the Colorado State Land Board that negotiations among the seven Colorado River basin states over post-2026 operations of Lakes Powell and Mead are advancing but remain unresolved, and that federal action is a possible next step.

Jason Ullman, state engineer, summarized why the talks matter: the 2007 interim guidelines that governed coordinated operations of Powell and Mead are due to expire in 2026, and reservoir levels have fallen to lows that threaten hydropower generation and long-term storage reliability. "We're close to the levels where Powell cannot generate power anymore," Ullman said, noting the operational choices directly affect compact compliance and regional water deliveries.

Ullman and CWCB Director Lauren Riss described a complex negotiating field in which upper-basin and lower-basin states, the Bureau of Reclamation and environmental voices have proposed different approaches, including a proposal to deliver a percentage of natural flow downstream. Ullman said the percentage choice matters greatly: a high percentage could further drain reservoirs, and upper-basin states (including Colorado) want sufficient storage in Powell to help meet compact obligations.

Ullman said the seven states were given a deadline by the Department of the Interior's assistant secretary for water and science to produce a framework; states reported progress but asked for more time. He added that Arizona requested federal intervention, which created additional uncertainty about the path forward. "We were given some time," he said, "and the Bureau could wait until as late as March to step in with an alternative."

Riss framed the negotiations as part of a larger state and interagency effort: CWCB houses staff support for interstate compact work, funds recovery programs and has a dedicated Colorado River Commissioner (Becky Mitchell) leading negotiations. Both she and Ullman emphasized collaboration across agencies and the role of the attorney general in legal strategy.

Next steps: negotiations will continue and federal officials may step in if the states do not agree on an operational framework. State officials said details are evolving and that board staff will remain closely engaged in regional talks.