Critical negotiations about the future of the Colorado River resumed March 2 after the seven states in the basin missed a key Valentine's Day deadline for striking a deal, according to New Mexico's water negotiator Estevan López. The talks had taken a two-week hiatus following the missed deadline.
The negotiations are focused on managing water allocations amid ongoing drought conditions that have significantly reduced the river's flow and reservoir levels. The Colorado River system supplies water to approximately 40 million people across seven states and supports extensive agricultural operations throughout the region.