Wildfire threats became a tired talking point at this year’s Southwestern Water Conservation District seminar in Ignacio on Friday, but attention spiked during a fiery speech by Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell. Contentious negotiations for water cuts between the seven states that rely on the shrinking Colorado River are in a deadlock.
“I want to talk a little bit about the post 2026 negotiations. I know that’s why I get invited,” said Mitchell, who represents Colorado in the upper basin coalition, to an audience of more than 200 at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. “Hopefully, someday, I won’t be as popular.”
This winter season’s warm temperatures and dry weather coincide with the expiration of water conservation agreements and drought plans made between the upper basin, which includes Colorado, and lower basin states. Lake Powell and Lake Mead, key water storage units in the Colorado River supply system, are at critically low levels.
Despite the crisis, deadlines for establishing new agreements before federal government intervention continue to be surpassed, with water cuts remaining the source of contention. Upper basin states argue they have long conserved water and advocate shifting cuts onto lower basin states, which object.
“The pain that is caused within this state on the hydrology of this year now – cutting below that? Cutting beyond that? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mitchell said. “It feels like it’s about inflicting pain on where pain is already being inflicted.”
Water cuts are of particular concern to agricultural operations, which have seen less water flowing from the river in recent years. According to Mitchell, southwestern Colorado is among the areas hardest hit by shortages.
“It is the backbone of our economy, our way of life and our diverse communities,” Mitchell said of the river.
She also applauded Ute Mountain Ute water conservation efforts, noting the tribe is using only a small fraction of its allocated water.
“Are they saying, ‘Sorry, we need to meet all these needs and we have all these national security concerns; we’re more important?’” Mitchell asked, referencing a statement by Arizona Democrats opposing proposed water cuts limited to lower basin states. “No. They’re saying, ‘There is a solution, and we will find it. And we will find it first within ourselves before we go knocking on our neighbor’s door.’”
Mitchell received a standing ovation from the crowd after her speech. Attendees included water industry experts and ordinary citizens, according to event organizer Elaine Chick, who called this a “banner year” for the seminar.
“Water is a lifeline to everybody and we’re in a pretty critical state right now,” Chick said. “It’s one of the driest years that we can remember, and I think it’s piqued a lot of people’s attention.”
avanderveen@the-journal.com
