Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country’s two largest reservoirs, have fallen to their lowest combined levels on record, a grim marker in the deepening water crisis across seven states that depend on the Colorado River. The two reservoirs are now lower than the previous record in 2023. … U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with governors of the seven states virtually Tuesday and said his agency will release a plan to deal with water shortages next week. … After the meeting Tuesday, Burgum said he was grateful to the governors for their “leadership and commitment to finding solutions to address drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin.” The Trump administration is focused on “establishing a new operating framework and continues to work with the states and 30 tribes to get closer to consensus,” he said.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KVVU (Las Vegas): Colorado River Basin states await federal water plan
• The Center Square: Official: Agreement could come soon on Colorado River
• NBC9 (Denver, Colo.): $100 million conservation program aims to boost Colorado’s water reserves, but key details remain unresolved
• Maven’s Notebook: Blog: Metropolitan focuses on stored water access as Colorado River rules take shape
• Bureau of Reclamation: News release: Secretary Burgum discusses future of the Colorado River with governors of the seven basin states