Facing unprecedented water supply uncertainty, federal managers of the Colorado River have announced a 10-year framework that mandates renegotiation every two years among the seven basin states: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, and Nevada. Scott Cameron, acting commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, revealed this plan during a conference at the University of Colorado Boulder. The ongoing drought has led to drastically reduced water levels in key reservoirs, with Lake Powell and Lake Mead currently at 24% and 29% capacity, respectively. Despite numerous attempts to reach a consensus, state negotiators have been unable to agree on a long-term management strategy, prompting federal officials to implement their own plan. Concerns have been raised by state negotiators about the implications of constant renegotiation, which could complicate funding for water projects. The Bureau of Reclamation aims to publish its plan by midsummer to ensure it is finalized before the next water year begins on October 1, 2023. Cameron emphasized the urgency of finding a solution, as 40 million people depend on the river's management for their water supply.