By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 14, 2025
Fast facts:
- Session at NALC and NASDA Foundation conference details state of Colorado River agreements
- Nationally recognized attorneys James Eklund, Hannah Mink will lead session
- Conference registration is online, with livestream option
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The countdown is on to secure the fate of one of the most important resources to Western agriculture: the Colorado River.
A vital source of water for 40 million people, the Colorado River stretches 1,450 miles and provides water to seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Managing the river’s water allocation is a complex legal task — per federal directives, operational guidelines must be finalized before 2026 ends. These rules will govern how the river is managed following 2026.
James Eklund, partner and head of the Water and Natural Resources practice area at Taft Law, emphasizes the urgency for the Basin States to reach consensus well ahead of the 2026 deadline.
“Decisions made this year will shape the future of Western agriculture for decades,” Eklund said. “While 2026 may seem like a distant milestone, the window for critical action is quickly closing. States need time to negotiate, build consensus, and implement solutions. Without progress, the risk of legal conflict and federal intervention grows.”
Eklund and Taft Law Water Attorney Hannah Mink will provide an update on the Colorado River at the third annual Western Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Law Conference, titled “Deadlines Matter & the Two-Year Clock is Ticking: The Fate of the Colorado River & Future of Ag.” The conference is June 19-20 in Reno, Nevada. Eklund, a returning speaker, led a popular session on the Colorado River at the inaugural Western conference in 2023.
This year’s program is hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation. The conference highlights pertinent agricultural issues which impact the western region of the country, with the Colorado River being a significant one.
Mink says that agriculture is at a crossroads, with water supply pressures demanding solutions. Without an agreement on the river, economic instability, legal conflicts, and environmental damage loom.
“If an agreement isn’t reached between the seven Colorado River Basin States, there will be broad consequences for Western agriculture,” Mink said. “Water banking and demand management programs are growing but face regulatory hurdles, Upper and Lower Basin States remain divided on strategy, and with the new administration, federal funding is in flux. In short, it’s a pivotal time.”
The Western conference will feature the opportunity for continuing education credits, including ethics credits, as well as continuing education from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. A livestream option is also available. More information and registration is available online at nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025.
To read the full news release, click here.