Under pressure to strike a compromise on water cuts, and amid talk of litigation, Wyoming and other upper Colorado River Basin states are pointing to the climate-driven disaster unfolding in the West to insist they can’t cut what Mother Nature isn’t providing in the headwaters. While some observers suspect that argument is cover for withholding more cuts in water use, the upper-basin contingency insists it has negotiated in good faith and still hopes to strike a deal with its lower-basin counterparts despite missed deadlines. They simply cannot commit to calculations that are beyond their control. … Upper Colorado River Commission members [met] Tuesday to discuss what they say are ongoing negotiations with lower Colorado River Basin states Arizona, California and Nevada, as well as 30 tribes and Mexico. 

Other Colorado River management news:

• Cronkite News: Federal plan to divide drought-stricken Colorado River water brings flood of pushback
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Water isn’t red or blue, former Reclamation boss tells Utah water users
• Deseret News (Salt Lake City): The fight over water in the West
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): As alfalfa drains the Colorado River, alternative feed is crop sought
• AZ Big Media (Phoenix): What experts say it will take to solve West’s water problems