Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act

# Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act Summary **What the bill does:** This legislation extends federal pilot programs designed to help conserve water in the Colorado River Basin through 2026. These programs aim to raise water levels in the Upper Colorado River Basin and Lake Mead, which have been depleted due to prolonged drought conditions in the western United States. The Bureau of Reclamation (a federal water management agency) currently runs these pilot projects, and the bill keeps them funded and operational for an additional period. **Who it affects:** The bill impacts seven western states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—that depend on Colorado River water for drinking water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power.

It also affects communities and industries in these states that rely on stable water supplies and electricity generation from dams like Hoover Dam and Glen Canyon Dam. **Current status:** The bill has passed the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. This is a bipartisan concern since water scarcity in the Colorado River affects multiple states across the region.