… [F]or the last three years, the seven states have been negotiating a new set of rules for sharing a dwindling supply of water before current ones expire in December. But the public has had little view inside the negotiating rooms. … KUNC requested work calendars for the seven negotiators earlier this year. The information wasn’t always easy to find. Some states – Arizona, New Mexico and Utah – were either not responsive to the requests or their state offices said they didn’t hold the records. Colorado would have charged about $280 for the documents. … States have said this closed-door process is needed to reach a deal — and it’s worked in the past. But this time, it hasn’t. The tension has only grown.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KSL (Salt Lake City): More water being released from Flaming Gorge to help Lake Powell
• KJZZ (Phoenix): CAP leaders take a step toward legal action over Arizona’s Colorado River water share
• KJZZ (Phoenix): These next steps will help Arizona adapt to Colorado River cuts, environmentalists say
• Ariz. Free News: Arizona House Republicans demand same Colorado River briefings given to Hobbs
• ABC15 (Phoenix): Glendale has been preparing for Arizona’s biggest water crisis in decades. Here’s what that means for you
• Boise State Public Radio (Idaho): Measuring the use of Colorado River water is harder than it looks
• The Economist: The American West’s water is increasingly fought over
• Invisible Waters: Blog: The Colorado River enters the courts