2026 is shaping up to be a key year for the Colorado River and the seven basin states that rely on its water. Those states hope to wrap up negotiations on how to use less of the overallocated river’s water by the end of this year — that means Arizona lawmakers and the governor would have next year to approve the deal. Joanna Allhands, digital opinions editor for The Arizona Republic, has written about this and joined The Show, along with editorial page editor Elvia Díaz, to discuss. … “If it plays out like what groundwater negotiations have done so far, that just means no one compromises, everything falls apart, we don’t get anywhere. And then that could be really disastrous for us, specifically because Arizona is the only Colorado River basin state that is required to have legislative approval for whatever deal comes our way,” (says Joanna Allhands). 

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• Bureau of Reclamation: News release: Reclamation explores partnerships to develop new water sources in the Lower Colorado River Basin
• Sky-Hi News (Granby, Colo.): Sections of Fraser, Colorado rivers under voluntary afternoon fishing closure due to warm water