The United States Senate held a hearing on June 10, 2026, to conduct oversight of the Colorado River Basin, focusing on current hydrologic conditions and ongoing negotiations for operations following 2026.
Senate hearing details
The hearing in Washington, D.C., included testimony from several key officials and stakeholders. The witness panel featured Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Diverse witness panel perspectives
Other witnesses provided perspectives on regional water management, including Amy Haas, Executive Director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah; Mike Vickrey, a rancher with the Green River Valley Cattlemen’s Association; and Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.
Amy Haas's professional background
Amy Haas, who testified at the Senate hearing, serves as the first Executive Director for the Colorado River Authority of Utah. According to the Colorado River Authority of Utah, Haas brings 20 years of water management experience to the role.
Haas previously served as the Executive Director and Secretary of the Upper Colorado River Commission, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the organization's history. Her professional background includes negotiating the Upper Basin Drought Contingency Plan and representing the Upper Colorado River Basin in binational agreements between the United States and Mexico.
Severe drought in Carbon County
While federal officials discuss long-term basin operations, local drought conditions remain severe in Carbon County. As of June 12, 2026, Drought.gov reported that 100% of the population in Carbon County is affected by drought.
Historical precipitation and drought data
Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that the period from January through May 2026 has been the 41st driest year on record for the county over a 132-year span, falling 1.12 inches below normal. This follows a May that ranked as the 46th wettest on record, despite being only 0.13 inches above normal precipitation levels.
