The president of the Utah State Senate, J. Stuart Adams, has proposed an idea aimed at resolving disputes among states reliant on the Colorado River. Adams suggests that California could build additional desalination plants along the Pacific Ocean to address its own water needs, with the condition that California would relinquish some of its Colorado River water shares for use by Utah and other upstream states. This proposal has been under consideration for several years and has garnered interest from at least one California water district. Recent discussions at the Colorado River Water Users Association meetings in Las Vegas indicated a willingness among states to explore various solutions to the ongoing water scarcity affecting over 40 million people. Gene Shawcroft, the Colorado River Commissioner for Utah, emphasized the importance of considering all feasible options, including water recycling and desalination. Jessica Neuwerth, executive director of the Colorado River Board of California, acknowledged the potential of the desalination proposal but noted the high costs and complexity associated with such projects. She expressed openness to discussions but highlighted that while desalination could be part of the solution, it would not address all water scarcity issues. Neuwerth stated that collaborative efforts among states are essential for a sustainable future. Shawcroft reiterated the importance of adding water to the Colorado River system through various means, including desalination and cloud seeding. Utah is currently engaged in cloud seeding projects funded by other states, while Nevada and California collaborate on water reuse initiatives. However, significant financial investments would be required to advance desalination efforts in Utah. John Berggren from Western Resource Advocates cautioned against the high costs of desalination, advocating instead for conservation measures as a more immediate and efficient solution. Adams has not pursued funding for the desalination proposal in the upcoming Utah State Legislature session but aims to foster further discussions among the involved states. With a deadline set by the Trump administration for states to reach a framework agreement on river management, the urgency for collaboration is evident.