Attorney General Phil Weiser statement on the states not reaching agreement on future of Colorado River

Feb. 13, 2026 (DENVER) — Attorney General Phil Weiser today issued the following statement in regarding the end of negotiations over future management of the Colorado River without an agreement:

“I am disappointed that the seven Basin States could not reach a consensus agreement on the future management of the Colorado River by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Feb. 14 deadline. In the spirit of compromise, the Upper Basin States, including Colorado, recently offered a revised proposal that closely followed a plan recommended by the Interior Department. The Lower Basin rejected that plan, did not offer an alternate proposal, and walked away from the table before the deadline.

“Colorado will continue to work with our fellow Upper Division States to provide comments on the federal government’s draft environmental impact statement, which sets forth a range of possible solutions. The Upper Division States will have to cut back their usage of water from the Colorado River—by 40 percent or more—in the face of an historic drought.

“Colorado is prepared for any litigation, and we will work tirelessly to protect our state’s rights and interests under the Law of the Colorado River.”

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov