Gov. Mark Gordon joined fellow governors from other Colorado River headwater states Thursday to announce that a significant extra water release from Flaming Gorge is imminent. Dire water conditions in the region will likely require reducing water use, he warned. “Because of such diminished runoff, existing state laws in the Upper Division States [Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico] require water users to face cuts to water rights dating back to the 1800s — these cuts are mandatory, uncompensated, and will have significant impacts on water users, including Upper Basin tribes, and local economies,” Gordon said Thursday afternoon in a joint press release with Govs. Spencer Cox of Utah, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Jared Polis of Colorado.

Other Colorado River management news:

• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Snowpack peak falters; all-time low for Colorado River on the table
• FOX5 (Las Vegas): Lake Mead drops more than 6 feet since March, nearing record low
• Colorado Public Radio: Grand Valley water officials brace public ahead of dry summer
• Tucson Spotlight (Ariz.): Tucson takes action as feds threaten Colorado River cuts
• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Stop forcing Arizona to pay for low Colorado River
• Colo. Gov. Jared Polis: News release: Upper Colorado River Basin states’ governors release statement on proposed draw down of Flaming Gorge and Upper Basin reservoirs