The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. A Notice of Availability for the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026.
This announcement follows a public review process that concluded on March 2, 2026. During that period, Reclamation received 18,127 submissions, including 785 unique submissions from stakeholders such as tribes, states, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
The Post-2026 process is a multi-year NEPA process intended to identify alternatives and determine operations for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and other water management actions for potentially decades to come.
Several existing agreements and documents governing Colorado River facilities and management are scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. These include the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans and the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Additionally, international agreements between the United States and Mexico under the 1944 Water Treaty are set to expire.
The Colorado River is a critical resource serving seven U.S. states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—as well as Mexico.
