The Trump administration has called 7 governors to the Colorado River talks in DC

With Western states deadlocked in negotiations on how to cut water use along the Colorado River, the Trump administration has called seven state governors to Washington to try to speed up an agreement.

At least four governors – Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming – said they will attend a meeting next week led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom will not.

Newsom “is unable to attend but plans to send key representatives of his administration to attend in his place,” spokesman Anthony Martinez said in an email.

Representatives of the seven districts that depend on the river have been meeting every two years to try to agree on how little water each will take after the current rules expire at the end of this year.

Federal officials told state leaders to reach an agreement, giving them until February 14.

States are “engaging and doing the hard work needed to reach an agreement,” said JB Hamby, chairman of California’s Colorado River Board, who will attend the meeting.

Hamby said California will “continue to lead” on actual water reduction commitments “because shared responsibility means every state has to do its part.” California has used less water in the past three years under a temporary agreement, with farmers being paid to leave some of their hay fields dry for part of the year.

“What I expect from this meeting is that everyone comes prepared to express what all countries can contribute … to support a system that supports us all,” he said in an email.

In the debates, three downstream states – California, Arizona and Nevada – face off against four upstream states – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Rhett Larson, a water law professor at Arizona State University, said it’s hard to say whether bringing the governors together would help stall negotiations.

“These are very good conversations, and the distance that should have been shortened is very far right now,” Larson said. “So I’m not sure how much progress will be made by having governors in the room, but I think it’s still a good sign.”

California’s farms and cities use more water from the Colorado River than any other state. If Newsom ends up being the only governor absent from the meeting, it will look like a snub, Larson said.

“Not going is not a good thing,” Larson said.

Speaking of the Colorado River problem, it is one of the most important problems facing the country, said Larson, and there is a chance that the absence of the meeting may not satisfy the government officials who have the authority to order to reduce the use of water in the area below the river.

“Why do you want to offend such a powerful person?” Larson said. “And that power is over your water.”

Newsom’s office said the governor was unable to attend “due to a long-term family commitment” and that his aides tried to see if another date would work, but the Interior Department decided to stick with its plan.

The Trump administration has not said what it will do if there is no deal. But it take out the frame this month of four options, each of which could significantly reduce water availability in Southern California and Arizona.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said on Jan. 12 speech that for many years the three sub-regions “have consistently brought proposals, promises of cooperation, and commitment to the long-term health of the river that supports nearly 40 million people.”

The federal government “needs to make sure that the surface basin goes up and saves water like Arizona is doing,” she said.

“The states above, led by Colorado, have chosen to dig in their heels instead of admitting the truth,” he said. “As negotiations continue, I refuse to back down.”

Hobbs attends the Jan. meeting. 30 in Washington focused on protecting Arizona farmers and businesses, said spokesman Christian Slater. “He is happy that Secretary Burgum heard him want to play a big role in the federal government,” he said, “and he hopes that the meeting will be a successful discussion.”

As negotiations continue to rage, the chances of states suing each other are increasing. It’s a path fraught with uncertainty that water managers in both camps say they hope to avoid.

The Colorado River supplies water to cities from Denver to Los Angeles, 30 Native American tribes and farming communities from the Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico. It has long been overused, and its dams have declined significantly amid chronic drought conditions since 2000.

In the last quarter of a century, the river lost about 20% of its flow. Research has shown that climate change it has sustained a long period of very dry years. Lake Mead, the river’s largest lake, is now just 34% full, while Lake Powell, its second largest lake, is at 27% capacity.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said interview with Fox 13 News from Salt Lake City that the negotiations “will be difficult in all countries” but “it will be good to have all of us in the room.”

A spokesman for Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said he is “committed to working on a solution that benefits everyone, while protecting Wyoming’s interests.”

Conor Cahill, spokesman for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, said that he “hopes to attend this meeting if he works” for other governors, and that “we always hope that we will reach a sustainable solution for all those who depend on the river.”

Larson, the ASU law professor, said based on the lack of progress in negotiations, he expects states to miss the Feb. 14 deadline, but “a deadline without results is just a day.”

This winter so far brought very little snow in the Rocky Mountains. That means less water flows into the river.

It’s possible, Larson said, “that the hydrology is getting so bad now that people are panicking, and that’s going to push people to the table as they worry.”

However, he said, at the moment it is difficult “to see how we get out of this without lawsuits.”