“Thanks to investments I secured through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have been able to enact short-term solutions for maintaining our precious Colorado River resources in Southern Nevada. Today’s announcement is another early step in the process to establish guidelines for the Colorado River Basin beginning in 2026. As a founding member of the Colorado River Caucus, I will continue to work on long-term water conservation solutions to ensure Nevada’s water allocation is protected.”

Background

The Department of Interior today released five proposed alternatives that will be analyzed as part of the Post-2026 Operations for the Colorado River. These alternatives represent a wide range of actions that respond to a broad spectrum of hydrology for the Colorado River Basin and reflect elements from proposals submitted by Basin states. As Basin partners continue to work towards a consensus agreement, the range of alternatives provides the framework to meet the goals and needs of the communities and users that rely on the Colorado River. This range includes a “Basin Hybrid Alternative,” that is designed to reflect components from the proposals and concepts submitted by the Upper Division States, Lower Division States, and Tribal Nations to present elements that could provide a basis for coordinated operations and may facilitate greater agreement across the Basin. All five alternatives will be formally analyzed to ensure the long-term stability of the Colorado River Basin for all communities and habitats that rely on it.

For full description of alternatives, please go to this link: https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-11/narrative-alternatives.pdf