With the drought-riddled Colorado River careening toward crisis levels in the coming months and seven Western states bitterly deadlocked on how to share its diminished flows, one faction is attempting to break off and go it alone. Over the past week, the downstream states of Arizona, California and Nevada have been negotiating feverishly over a potential deal to divvy up water delivery cuts for the next few years and develop a handful of tools for blunting the pain that will stem from them. It’s a Hail Mary bid to exert some control over their own fate as the Interior Department prepares to begin unilaterally operating the river’s system of dams and canals starting in October. 

Other Colorado River management news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Lake Powell cuts could dramatically reduce Hoover Dam’s ability to generate power
• KSJD (Cortez, Colo.): Interior Department starts emergency drought measures to prop up Lake Powell
• KTNV (Las Vegas): Experts warn Colorado River system is heading toward ‘water bankruptcy.’ Here’s what that means.