Bureau Seeks Feedback on Tracking Colorado River Water Shenanigans
Published Date: 2/24/2026
Notice
Summary
The Bureau of Reclamation is asking for public feedback on renewing and updating how they collect info about water use from the Colorado River in the Lower Basin. This affects farmers, water managers, and communities relying on this water. Comments are open until March 26, 2026, and the goal is to keep water tracking clear without adding extra hassle or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Lower Basin water users must report use
If you use Colorado River water in Arizona, California, or Nevada, you must provide the Bureau of Reclamation with monthly or annual reports of diversions, return flows, and consumptive use as your water delivery contract requires. The Bureau estimates 84 respondents will submit 491 total responses per year, requiring 103 total burden hours annually, and there are no estimated annual non-hour costs. Reporting is required to obtain or retain your water delivery benefit.
Annual public records of Colorado River use
The Secretary of the Interior must prepare and keep complete, detailed, and accurate records of diversions, return flows, and consumptive use, and make those records available at least annually. This requirement stems from the Consolidated Decree in Arizona v. California entered March 27, 2006, and helps states and communities confirm no one exceeds authorized Colorado River water use.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04398 — Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Actions
This report shares updates on water contracts managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, affecting farmers, cities, and businesses that rely on project water. It highlights new, ended, or ongoing contract changes that impact water delivery and payments, helping everyone stay in the loop about water use and costs. Expect updates on contract deadlines and money matters that keep water flowing smoothly through 2026.
2026-09022 — Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council Notice of Public Meeting
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council is holding a public meeting on May 13-14, 2026, to share updates and plan future efforts to keep the river’s water clean and less salty. This affects farmers, cities, and wildlife relying on the river, with agencies working together to protect water quality. The meeting is both in-person in Las Vegas and online, making it easy for everyone to join and stay informed.
2026-08982 — Public Meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group
The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group is holding a virtual public meeting on May 13, 2026, to talk about how the dam is operated and how it affects the environment and wildlife downstream. They’ll share updates on water levels, endangered species, and possible experiments for this year, plus discuss funding for future projects. This meeting matters to people who care about the Colorado River, wildlife, and water management in the Grand Canyon area.
2026-06411 — Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Actions
This report shares updates on water contracts managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, affecting farmers, cities, and businesses that rely on project water. It highlights new, ended, or ongoing contract actions that impact how water is delivered and paid for, with some changes possibly affecting costs or timing soon. Everyone depending on these water projects should stay tuned for updates that could influence their water use and budgets.
2026-03776 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Recreation Survey Questions
The Bureau of Reclamation wants to keep using its recreation survey questions to learn how people enjoy public lands and water spots. They’re asking for public feedback by March 27, 2026, but no changes or extra costs are expected. This helps make sure the surveys stay easy and useful for everyone who visits these outdoor places.
2026-02687 — Public Meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group
The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group is holding a public meeting on February 25-26, 2026, both in-person in Tempe, AZ, and online. This group helps decide how to manage the dam to protect the environment downstream, affecting local communities, wildlife, and water users. No big money changes are announced, but the meeting will share important updates and plans for the dam’s future.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03653 — North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Article 1904; Binational Panel Review: Notice of Panel Decision
On February 19, 2026, a special NAFTA panel reviewed a trade dispute about softwood lumber from Canada. They agreed with some parts of the U.S. decision and sent others back for a second look. This affects lumber businesses and could change import rules or costs soon.
Next: 2026-03655 — Withdrawal of Final Guidance for Estimating Value per Statistical Life
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is ditching its 2024 rule that valued kids’ lives at double the adult rate when making safety decisions. They found this approach caused legal and fairness problems, so they’re going back to the old way that matches other federal agencies. This change takes effect February 24, 2026, and means future safety rules will use a more balanced and trusted method without inflating benefits.