Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Water Manager Tina Shields began her report to the IID board Tuesday, Aug. 19, saying, “Hydrology never has good news, lately.” … California, therefore the Imperial Valley, is spared from mandatory cuts in 2026 under the Tier 1 shortage, maintaining its full allocation of 4.4 million acre-feet, due to its senior water rights. … If conditions worsen, further reductions could be triggered, potentially affecting all Lower Basin states. … She [Shields] said this year was the sixth-worst year in a 64-year recording. “We had a decent snowpack, but the dry soil and fire damage circumvented the runoff entering the reservoirs.”

Other Colorado River news:

• Aspen Public Radio (Colo.): Here’s how ‘dire’ predictions from the federal government could impact Colorado River negotiations
• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Colorado River is careening to crisis again. There’s a better way
• ABC15 (Phoenix, Ariz.): Coalition forms to protect Arizona’s water supply
• The Journal (Cortez, Colo.): Colorado River Program’s new director ‘cautiously hopeful’ about interstate negotiations
• KAWC (Yuma, Ariz.): Arizona Edition podcast: Climate change and ag in Yuma, Colorado River personhood, AWC CAMP