The latest news about the Colorado River is dire. Since 2000, the river’s flow has shrunk about 20%. An extremely warm winter has brought very little snow in the Rocky Mountains. Reservoirs are declining to critically low levels. And the leaders of seven states are still at loggerheads over the water cutbacks each should accept to prevent reservoirs from falling further. … Officials are talking about what they will do if no deal is reached. Representatives of Arizona, Nevada and California already offered cuts of 27%, 17% and 10%, respectively. But that hasn’t been enough for negotiators representing Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah. 

Other Colorado River news:

• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Arizona braces for cutbacks on the Colorado River. Here’s what to know
• ABC15 (Phoenix): Colorado River uncertainty is driving up water bills in these two Valley cities
• KTAR (Phoenix): What’s next for Arizona, other Colorado River basin states after water deal deadline passes?
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Commentary: Is farming in Arizona sustainable or logical? It’s not an easy answer
• High Country News (Paonia, Colo.): Commentary: The Colorado River rift abides
• The Sopris Sun (Carbondale, Colo.): Commentary: Historiography — the politics of water