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-Editorial
California water, tribal, and agricultural leaders on Tuesday presented a detailed proposal for a basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River, highlighting the state’s commitment to conserve 440,000 acre-feet of river water annually as part of ongoing negotiations over management of the river beyond 2026.
The proposal was presented at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, where California officials emphasized conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship of the shared water system. State leaders said the framework is intended to provide a durable solution to ongoing drought and climate-driven hydrologic challenges affecting the Colorado River Basin.
“California is leading with constructive action,” said JB Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California. “We have reduced our water use to the lowest levels since the 1940s, invested billions to modernize our water systems and develop new supplies, partnered with tribes and agricultural communities, and committed to real water-use reductions that will stabilize the river. We are doing our part – and we invite every state to join us in this shared responsibility.”
California’s proposal calls for hydrology-based operational flexibility, with all seven Basin States and Mexico contributing real and measurable water savings. State officials stressed that any agreement must include transparent and verifiable accounting for conserved water, along with equitable sharing of risks and responsibilities between the Upper and Lower basins.
“California’s leadership is grounded in results, and the Imperial Valley is proud to contribute to that record. Our growers have created one of the most efficient agricultural regions in the Basin—cutting use by over 20% while supporting a $3 billion farm economy that feeds America. Since 2003, IID has conserved more than nine million acre-feet, and with the Colorado River as our sole water supply, we remain firmly committed to constructive, collaborative solutions that protect America’s hardest-working river,” Gina Dockstader, Chairwoman, Imperial Irrigation District.
Officials said California is willing to set aside certain long-standing legal positions under the Colorado River Compact and other elements of the “Law of the River,” including policies governing releases from Lake Powell and the distribution of shortages in the Lower Basin, provided that all basin states and Mexico make sufficient and equitable conservation contributions.
Despite serving an estimated 20 million residents who rely on the Colorado River and supporting one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, California’s projected Colorado River water use for 2025 is 3.76 million acre-feet, the lowest level since 1949, according to state officials. The reductions build on decades of conservation efforts across urban, agricultural, and tribal water users.
State data show that over the past 20 years, urban Southern California cut imported water demand by roughly 50% while adding nearly 4 million residents. Agricultural users reduced water consumption by more than 20% while maintaining more than $3 billion in annual farm output. Tribal governments have also contributed to conservation efforts, including nearly 40,000 acre-feet of water conserved by the Quechan Indian Tribe to support stability in the river system.
Looking ahead, California said it is prepared to reduce its water use by an additional 440,000 acre-feet per year, beyond existing conservation measures, as part of the Lower Basin’s proposal to conserve up to 1.5 million acre-feet annually. The plan would include an equitable contribution from Mexico, subject to binational negotiations. State officials also said California is prepared to make further reductions during periods of extreme shortage under a comprehensive basin-wide plan.
In addition to specific conservation commitments, California outlined a set of principles to guide post-2026 Colorado River operating guidelines. The framework supports flexible, hydrology-based releases from Lake Powell designed to protect storage levels in both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, while avoiding disproportionate impacts to any single region. It also calls for releases under the Colorado River Storage Project Act when necessary to reduce water supply and hydropower risks in both basins.
The proposal emphasizes shared contributions among all basin states, noting that the Lower Basin’s offer to conserve up to 1.5 million acre-feet per year represents the first enforceable proposal to address the system’s structural deficit. California officials stated that broader participation by all seven Basin States would be necessary during more severe hydrologic conditions.
California’s framework also supports the use of interstate water exchanges to encourage regional investments in new water supply projects, continued and expanded water storage in Lake Mead to maintain operational flexibility, and the creation of conservation pools in the Upper Basin. State leaders called for a long-term agreement implemented in phases, allowing tools such as reservoir storage to extend beyond initial timeframes due to the scale of investment required.
Officials said any final agreement must include federal funding and authorities to support implementation, protect tribal water rights, allow agricultural and urban communities to continue operating, and address environmental concerns, including impacts on the Salton Sea.