Instead of agreeing on a traditional, 20-year deal for the Colorado River, the states that share the water source are focused on a short-term plan as they stare down the basin’s worst snow season in two decades. But that doesn’t mean officials are ready to agree any time soon, despite mounting federal pressure to do so. … “We are thoroughly prepared to fight like hell if it comes to that,” said John Entsminger, Nevada’s governor-appointed negotiator and general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. “We’re trying to avoid that … If it comes to fighting to protect the water interests of Southern Nevada, we’re ready.” A new deal must be in place before the start of the next water year in October, whether the states come to an agreement or the Trump administration imposes one upon them.

Other Colorado River management news:

• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada vows to ‘fight like hell’ if Colorado River share is unfairly cut
• Wyoming Public Media: In the drought-strained Mountain West, a New Mexico river offers a glimpse of resilience, study finds
• NBC12 (Phoenix): Could nuclear power help pump water into the Colorado River?
• ABC15 (Phoenix): ‘We need Yuma’: Stakes high for southwest AZ farmers as river negotiations stall
• The Journal (Cortez, Colo.): Colorado River commissioner gives fiery speech on river negotiations at Southwest Colorado seminar