Who controls the Colorado River?

The Colorado River is controlled by a complex web of federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private water rights holders. The primary federal agency responsible for managing the river is the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The BOR is responsible for operating and maintaining the dams, reservoirs, and canals that store and deliver water from the Colorado River to users in seven western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

In addition to the BOR, several other federal agencies have jurisdiction over the Colorado River, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is responsible for protecting endangered species in the river, and the National Park Service, which manages several national parks and monuments along the river. State agencies also play a significant role in managing the river, including the Colorado River Water Conservation District in Colorado, the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and the California Department of Water Resources.

Finally, private water rights holders also have significant control over the Colorado River. These rights are based on the doctrine of prior appropriation, which gives priority to water users who established their rights first. As a result, senior water rights holders can often take water from the river before junior water rights holders, even during times of drought.

The complex and often conflicting interests of the various stakeholders in the Colorado River have led to a history of disputes and litigation over water rights. In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the sustainability of water use in the Colorado River Basin, as climate change is causing the river to shrink. As a result, there is a growing need for cooperation and collaboration among all stakeholders to develop sustainable water management plans for the future.