08/21/2026
“The guidelines released today can be a start…Through creative problem solving, shared sacrifice and a renewed commitment to collaboration, a long-term agreement is possible. That remains our goal, and the best way to avoid a crisis.”
- GM Shivaji Deshmukh
Read full statement:
https://www.mwdh2o.com/press-releases/metropolitan-issues-statement-on-release-of-2027-2028-guidelines-rod-for-colorado-river-operations/
For the past 26 years, the Colorado River Basin has been experiencing an unprecedented multidecadal drought, resulting in historically low runoff and reservoir levels. This month Lake Powell and Lake Mead reached a record-low elevation, highlighting the need for flexible operations that can respond to rapidly changing conditions across the Colorado River Basin.
To ensure reliable operations of the Colorado River system, the Department of the Interior issued the 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines and the Record of Decision for the Post-2026 Colorado River Operations Final Environmental Impact Statement, establishing a 10-year Decision Framework to guide future operational guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
Together, they provide for delivery of vital water supplies and protect critical federal infrastructure while preserving the flexibility necessary to respond to Basin States’ voluntary actions, consensus recommendations and the continued prolonged drought.
Read the press release here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5392
📷: Glen Canyon Dam rises above the Colorado River near Page, Arizona, with the surrounding red rock landscape visible in the background.
U.S. Department of the Interior
