Western Water Policy Program

2026 Colorado River Conference Summary

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:21:14 +0000

2026 Colorado River Conference Summary Annie Carlozzi Wed, 08/12/2026 - 14:21

Emilia Endara

The Getches-Wilkinson Center has published a comprehensive report documenting discussions from the 46th Annual Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources Law. Held in partnership with the Water & Tribes Initiative, this landmark event gathered 505 in-person and remote participants to address shared challenges and evolving management on the Colorado River.

As negotiations for post-2026 river guidelines face ongoing gridlock over shortages and conservation obligations, this new publication preserves the diverse stories and lessons shared by top decision-makers. The report serves as a roadmap for navigating the river's ecological and structural changes.

Read the full conference summary here.

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The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project: Reflections from Beaver Creek

Annie Carlozzi — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:07:49 +0000

The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project: Reflections from Beaver Creek Annie Carlozzi Tue, 07/28/2026 - 14:07

Anneka Lambert , Emilia Endara and Mallory Tope

On July 8, the Getches-Wilkinson Center visited the Kawuneeche Valley restoration site at Beaver Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. Upon arriving at Beaver Creek, the team met with Isabel de Silva Shewell, the lead ecologist on the project with a background in riparian restoration, who gave us a tour of the restoration site.

The 30-acre area is located at the headwaters of the Colorado River, and is surrounded by an exclosure fence tall enough to prevent moose and elk from jumping over. While we were fortunate enough to meet with Isabel and receive a guided tour, members of the public are welcome to enter through the gates and see the restoration efforts firsthand.

The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project/Beaver Creek Site Description

The Kawuneeche Valley restoration project is an effort to restore the ecosystem impaired by human activity and the climate-driven stressors such as an unpredictable snowpack and overbrowsing by moose.

Nestled at the base of the Never Summer Mountains, Beaver Creek is one of four tributaries to the mainstem of the Colorado River included in the project’s restoration efforts. Since the 1950s, there has been a loss of 94% of surface waters associated with beaver ponds, and a 77% loss of tall willow acreage since 1999. As a result, the Kawuneeche Valley has transitioned from its historical beaver-willow wetland ecosystem with a high water table, that supported hydrophilic vegetation and was dominated by tall willow.

These changes have been driven by human diversion of water, the effects of climate change, and the loss of tall willow due to the influx of large populations of moose. The once-booming beaver population in the area declined with the loss of suitable habitat. Without beaver dams, the water saturation in the soil became insufficient to support a stable riparian buffer. Beaver Creek became loaded with sediment, and water quality declined. The site has been identified as a major contributor of sediment to the mainstem of the Colorado River.

The Impacts of Moose and Elk at Beaver Creek and Potential Solutions

In 1978-1979, moose were re-introduced into Rocky Mountain National Park on the west side. https://www.nps.gov/articles/moose-research-in-rocky-mountain-national-park.htm. Initially, only 24 moose were released and largely remained on the west side of the park. Id. Moose are typically solitary animals; however, warmer, shorter winters allowed moose to congregate and populations to boom. Id. Easier passage facilitated the movement of moose across the continental divide to the east side of the park. Id.

As of 2025, there were 240 moose estimated to be in the park. Id. Willows are a primary food source for moose. However, willows, whose stems only grow about six inches per year, do not regenerate quickly enough to support such a large moose population. Today, the site is marked by what Isabel referred to as “zombie willows,” or willows that have been chewed down by moose, leaving only the woody stems of the plants.

Evidence of the former beaver-willow ecosystem is found throughout the site. Depressions indicate where beaver dam surface waters had existed in previous decades; willows that had been chewed down to woody stubs have new growth, and wetland vegetation such as sedges dominate the area.

In addition to constructing beaver dam analogs, the park service is attempting to address moose populations. Exclosure fences have been successful in keeping moose and elk from entering the restoration site. However, this is only one component of long-term population management measures. Discussions of potential solutions include measures put in place in 2008 by the Elk and Vegetation Management Plan (EVMP). In addition to exclosure fences, these efforts also include the culling of individual moose. Hunting is not permitted in the park, and moose have no natural predators in the area to keep populations in check. Therefore, such measures may be necessary to restore balance to the ecosystem.

Beaver Dam Analogs

The main tool utilized to restore the site to a functioning beaver-willow wetland ecosystem are beaver analogs. Beaver analogs are wooden structures that span the creek in a manner that mimics beaver dams. They raise the water table upstream, increase channel complexity, promote resilience to high runoff in the snowpack, trap fine sediment, and store water across the floodplain. The analogs were built using lodgepoles from the surrounding area to mimic the natural ecosystem sourced from fuel-mitigation events in the park.

Restoration efforts are already yielding encouraging results. Groundwater quantity is continuously monitored at the site. Since the installation of the analogs in 2024; levels have slowly and steadily risen. Water quality at the site has improved, and benthic microorganisms highly sensitive to water quality have reappeared in the creek.

With the diminishment of willows over the years, invasive plant species such as the Canada Thistle flourished. Since the start of the project, Isbabel said there has been an evident decrease in Canada Thistle, leaving more room for willows to grow.

Takeaways and Further Information

Overall, the GWC would like to thank Isabel and all those at RMNP and the Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project for this fantastic opportunity. The team greatly enjoyed seeing the site first-hand, looking at the impact of overbrowsing, and how the ecosystem has begun to heal. Being on the headwaters of the Colorado River was a reminder of all the components that go into maintaining a healthy, thriving river that can support the surrounding habitat and those downstream.

If you are interested in more information about the Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project, please visit their website at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/the-kawuneeche-valley-restoration-collaborative.htm

If would like to help out, please consider volunteering at a future event. Previous volunteer opportunities have included revegetation efforts such as willow staking. There is potential for volunteers to help build and maintain materials for dam infrastructure at events in the future. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/volunteer.htm

For updates on the Kawuneeche Valley, you can sign up for their newsletter at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/WKvPewd

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Low Point for Colorado River Storage

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:45:07 +0000

Low Point for Colorado River Storage Annie Carlozzi Wed, 07/15/2026 - 07:45

Jack Schmidt , Anne Castle , John Fleck , Eric Kuhn , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

July 12, 2026 marked the date that the combined storage in Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached a new all time low. Stored water reserves in the two reservoirs are now less than they were before Lake Powell was constructed. The last time the combined total live storage in these two workhorse reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin was this small was May 23, 1957, almost 70 years ago, when water was stored only in Lake Mead. Our ability to offset consumptive use that exceeds natural supply with reservoir releases is not infinite and is speedily diminishing. Water use must be reduced.

A Significant Moment in the Colorado River Water Supply Crisis

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Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:11:18 +0000

Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use Annie Carlozzi Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:11

Daniel Anderson

Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use is a new Getches-Wilkinson Center report on Artificial Intelligence, water, and legal reform. AI is fueling a data center development boom—but what does it mean for our water future? Data centers consume large amounts of water, are increasingly located in the arid West, and are projected to grow exponentially in the coming years. With the federal government standing aside, states are struggling to respond swiftly and effectively to their citizens' concerns. This new paper examines emerging state legislation across the country, identifying four major water policy approaches: reporting, conservation, incentives, and prior appropriation requirements. Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, industry leader, or concerned citizen, this analysis offers a timely snapshot at one of the fastest-evolving intersections of technology and water policy.

Report authors: Daniel Anderson, J.D., Getches-Wilkinson Water Law Fellow and Sydney Stellato, Colorado Law Student, Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow

Read Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use

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Aug 21: The Colorado River's Uncertain Water Future Explained with Brad Udall

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:57:10 +0000

Aug 21: The Colorado River's Uncertain Water Future Explained with Brad Udall Annie Carlozzi Thu, 07/09/2026 - 09:57

Brad Udall presents an engaging look at the Colorado River in an era of climate change. Discover the challenges facing the river and the choices that will shape its future.

This event is co-hosted by Colorado Mountain Club Boulder Group and Getches-Wilkinson Center.

Friday, August 21, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom

In person only. Zoom will not be offered for this event.

Free and Open to the public

Register Here

Brad Udall

Bradley H. Udall is a Senior Water and Climate Research Scientist / Scholar at Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center. His expertise includes hydrology and related policy issues of the American West, with a focus on the Colorado River. Brad was a co-author of the 2009 and 2018 National Climate Assessments and a contributing author to the 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 5^th Assessment. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on the causes of the 21^st century declining Colorado River flows and on the ongoing aridification of the Western United States. Brad has testified in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on the impacts of climate change on water resources and provided input to multiple National Academy of Science panels. Brad was formerly the Director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment at the University of Colorado Law School and Director of the University of Colorado - NOAA Western Water Assessment. In 2024 he was awarded the David Getches Flowing Waters award from the Colorado Water Trust. Brad has an engineering degree from Stanford and an MBA from Colorado State University.

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The Colorado River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:25:18 +0000

The Colorado River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1 Annie Carlozzi Thu, 06/18/2026 - 11:25

Jack Schmidt , Anne Castle , Eric Kuhn , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

We almost always focus on just Lake Powell and Lake Mead, but there are 46 reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin. This new paper by Jack Schmidt and the usual suspects looks at the state and trends of total Basin storage and the “Ratchet Effect” when we consistently use more water than Nature supplies.

The Colorado River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1

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UPDATE: Colorado River Basin Storage Continues Slide Toward System Crash

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:39:02 +0000

UPDATE: Colorado River Basin Storage Continues Slide Toward System Crash Annie Carlozzi Mon, 06/01/2026 - 10:39

Anne Castle , Jack Schmidt , Eric Kuhn , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

Stored water reserves in the Colorado River system continue to decline. The mismatch between natural supply and overall Basin water use is having the inevitable effect on Basin-wide storage. This paper analyzes the impact on storage in the system’s major reservoirs under two scenarios – a wet year and a dry one. Another dry year brings the system dangerously close to crashing (i.e., run-of-the-river operations), and a wet year provides only a temporary reprieve. Without significant reductions in use throughout the Basin, water users will no longer derive any benefit from the extensive and expensively-constructed Colorado River reservoir system, intended to bring reliable water supplies and associated prosperity to the southwestern United States.

Authors: Anne Castle, Jack Schmidt, Eric Kuhn, Kathryn Sorensen, and Katherine Tara

UPDATE: Colorado River Basin Storage Continues Slide Toward System Crash

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Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:35:06 +0000

Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/30/2026 - 10:35

Eric Kuhn , Anne Castle , Carlos de la Parra , John Fleck , Jack Schmidt , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

With the existing Colorado River operating rules set to expire in nine months, the relationships among the Basin States have been the focus of much discussion and analysis, but the agreements between the US and Mexico governing their relationship are terminating at the same time. Discussions between the two countries are just ramping up, and there is a window of opportunity for new, creative arrangements that better reflect conditions on the River and make Mexico less dependent on what appears to be inevitable litigation in the US. This paper looks closely at the hydrology and hydrogeography of the Colorado River and suggests a shift from a fixed volume delivery obligation to one that equitably shares whatever water exists on a percentage basis.

Authors:
Eric Kuhn, Anne Castle, Carlos de la Parra, John Fleck, Jack Schmidt, Kathryn Sorensen and Katherine Tara

Rethinking How the United States and Mexico Share the Colorado River

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Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:34:41 +0000

Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines Annie Carlozzi Mon, 01/26/2026 - 14:34

Assigned Water programs in the Colorado River system, like Intentionally Created Surplus and Mexican Water Reserve, have created valuable flexibility in the Lower Basin. These programs mitigate the disincentive for conservation or saving water inherent in the prior appropriation system of water rights, the "use it or lose it" phenomenon. They have proved to be critical to managing volatility in water supplies and were an essential component of the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan.

During the two decades that Assigned Water has existed in the Colorado River, we have learned more about both the benefits of these programs and some of the problems with the specific rules through which they have been implemented. A group of Colorado River policy experts, dubbed the Traveling Wilburys of the Colorado River, has published a new paper discussing the advantages and drawbacks of existing Assigned Water programs and providing recommendations for designing a better system for the future, including a potential conservation pool in the Upper Basin.

An executive summary of the work is provided here, together with the complete discussion and rationale for specific recommendations.

Authors:
Kathryn Sorensen, Sarah Porter, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Katherine Tara

Executive Summary and Recommendations

Considerations for Assigned Water after Expiration of the 2007 Guidelines

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Colorado River Continues to Bring Unlikely Parties Together at CRWUA

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:51:40 +0000

Colorado River Continues to Bring Unlikely Parties Together at CRWUA Annie Carlozzi Mon, 12/29/2025 - 08:51

Image by Lex Padilla

Daniel Anderson

Image by Lex Padilla

The Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference met in Las Vegas last week. Each year, over a thousand government officials, members of the press, municipal water district leaders, water engineers, ranchers, and tribal members meet to discuss the management of the mighty Colorado River. Hanging over the three-day conference was a stalemate between the upper and lower basin states over how to manage the Colorado River after current operational guidelines expire at the end of 2026.

Throughout the conference, the states’ inability to reach a consensus deal produced ripple effects. The stalemate held back progress on both near term shortage concerns (experts predict that Lake Powell will be only 28% full at the end of the ’25-’26 water year) and long-range planning, such as the development of the next “Minute” agreement between the United States and Mexico.

The closing act of CRWUA 2025 was an orderly (and familiar) report from each of the basin states’ principal negotiators that their state is stretched thin but remains committed to finding a consensus agreement. This final session had no discussion or Q&A. The basin states now have until February 14th to provide the Bureau of Reclamation with their consensus deal, which would presumably be added to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) draft that is expected to be released in early January. With time running short, many worry that public participation in the EIS process – vital to informed decision-making – will be greatly reduced.

Still, as Rhett Larson of Arizona State University said on the first day of the conference, “Desert rivers bring people together.” Tribal governments continue to innovate in the areas of conservation and storage, even in spite of ongoing challenges to meaningful access of federally reserved tribal water rights. For instance, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, or CRIT, shared news of a Resolution and Water Code recently passed by their Tribal Council which work together to recognize the Colorado River’s personhood under Tribal law. This provides CRIT with a holistic framework for on-reservation use and requires the consideration of the living nature of the Colorado River in off-reservation water leasing decisions. John Bezdek, who represented CRIT at the conference, put it this way: “If laws are an expression of values, then this tribal council is expressing to the world the importance of protecting and preserving the lifeblood of the Colorado River.” Among others, Celene Hawkins of The Nature Conservancy and Kate Ryan of the Colorado Water Trust also shared about the unique, and often unlikely, partnerships formed to protect stream flows and the riparian environment across the Colorado River basin.

Notwithstanding the basin states’ current deadlock, one theme rang true at CRWUA 2025: Despite the dire hydrologic and administrative realities facing decision-makers today, the Colorado River continues to bring unlikely parties together.

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