In the coming weeks, the public will have the opportunity to review a significant document that has taken two and a half years to prepare, which will outline the management of the Colorado River for the next decade. The Bureau of Reclamation, responsible for water management in the West, is set to release a draft environmental review by early January, presenting various options to replace expiring operating rules by the end of 2026. Key details from the draft were discussed at the Colorado River Water Users Association's conference in Las Vegas. While negotiations among federal officials and seven western states that depend on the river have been largely confidential since 2023, any new operating rules must undergo a public environmental review process before finalization. Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Interior Department, emphasized the agency's commitment to meet the January deadline to finalize new rules. Typically, environmental reviews include a preferred alternative, but in a departure from tradition, the draft will not indicate a favored set of guidelines. Instead, it will present a variety of alternatives aimed at fostering a consensus among states on how to manage the dwindling water supply. The Lower Basin states—California, Arizona, and Nevada—along with the Upper Basin states—Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico—have been at a stalemate regarding water management strategies. The states recently failed to meet a federal deadline for submitting a preliminary consensus plan to replace the river's operating guidelines. The last opportunity for states to submit a final plan is mid-February 2026, with new guidelines expected to be implemented by October 2026. Scott Cameron, Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, noted that negotiations have intensified, with federal officials meeting regularly with state negotiators. Key disagreements persist, particularly over which states should reduce water usage during drought conditions. The draft environmental review will cover various components, including strategies for reducing water deliveries from Lake Mead during shortages and enhancing the management of Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Current projections indicate that water inflow into the reservoirs in 2026 could be significantly below average, raising concerns about future water availability.